7 Oct 2026
Episode 37 Guest SSS Logistics Lee Swafford
Insights from the Box Truck Hustle: Dispatching Wisdom
Discover key differences in box truck and hot shot dispatching.
In this episode of the Box Truck Hustle, Telly Arnold and Sharif Brooks welcome Lee Swafford from SSS Logistics to share his insights into the box truck industry. Lee, who has been dispatching for five years, discusses his journey in trucking and some of the important differences between dispatching box trucks and larger commercial vehicles.
Understanding the Box Truck Landscape
Lee begins by explaining the formation of SSS Logistics, initially named for his cousins but later rebranded to represent “Swift Spectacular Service.” He emphasizes the importance of understanding the different types of equipment a dispatcher may work with, including dry vans, flatbeds, reefers, hot shots, and box trucks.
Lee shares that box trucks were his entry point into dispatching, although today he primarily works with flatbeds. He also addresses the common perception that getting into the box truck business is easy. While the barrier to entry may appear lower, successfully operating a box truck requires industry knowledge, preparation, strategy, and an understanding of the competition.
The Key Differences: Box Trucks vs. Semis
When asked about the differences between box truck drivers and eighteen-wheeler drivers, Lee describes it as “comparing apples to a soccer ball.”
One major difference is training and licensing. Many non-CDL box truck drivers can enter the industry without the formal training required of CDL holders operating larger commercial vehicles.
Lee explains, “The semi-guys obviously they’ve been through something. They had to go to training. They just didn’t shoot straight out there.”
That difference in preparation can create additional challenges in the box truck sector, particularly for new carriers and drivers who enter the industry without fully understanding freight, rates, operating expenses, regulations, load boards, and how to properly run the business.
Navigating the Load Boards
A significant part of the discussion focuses on load boards and the difference between freight availability for box trucks and semis.
Lee encourages listeners to see the difference for themselves: “Jump on the load board and put in Atlanta, Georgia and put in a twenty-six-foot box truck and then do a fifty-three-foot van or reefer and see how many more loads populate.”
The reality is that box truck carriers may have fewer load options than carriers operating larger equipment. That makes understanding your market, negotiating rates, managing deadhead miles, and developing relationships even more important.
The Reality of Amazon and Contract Work
The conversation also touches on working with companies like Amazon and the unpredictability that can come with relying on certain platforms for freight.
Lee shares his experience dealing with canceled loads and the frustration of losing potential earnings after planning around a load: “I was hot. I was pissed off.”
The discussion highlights an important lesson for carriers: having access to freight does not always mean having consistent or profitable freight.
Semi-truck carriers may also have access to a wider variety of contract opportunities and freight options, giving them additional ways to develop long-term relationships with brokers, shippers, and customers.
Knowledge, Strategy, and Connections Matter
As the discussion wraps up, Telly and Sharif reflect on the realities of finding reliable freight and understanding how the trucking industry operates.
The box truck business can provide opportunities, but simply purchasing a truck and finding a dispatcher is not a complete business strategy. Carriers need to understand their numbers, equipment, operating costs, freight markets, load boards, broker relationships, and the realities of running under their own authority.
Whether you’re already operating a box truck or considering entering the industry, this episode provides prac
