Good loads disappear in minutes. When every booking waits for a phone call, a text and a reply, the best freight is often gone before the carrier answers. Green-light rules solve that by putting the carrier's decisions in writing ahead of time.
What green-light rules are
Green-light rules are a short written list of the loads a carrier agrees to accept without being asked each time: the lanes, the minimum rate, the equipment and any limits on timing. When a load meets every rule, the dispatcher may book it. When it misses even one, the dispatcher asks first.
The rules most carriers set
- Lanes: the regions or city pairs you want to run, and any you never want to see.
- Minimum rate: usually per mile, sometimes a minimum per load for short runs.
- Equipment and weight: what the truck can legally and safely haul.
- Timing: earliest pickup, latest delivery, and home-time days that are off limits.
- Brokers: any brokers you will not work with, or a minimum credit standard.
Where the rules belong
Rules belong in the dispatcher-carrier agreement or a signed attachment to it, not in a text thread. Writing them down protects both sides: the carrier knows exactly what may be booked, and the dispatcher knows exactly what is authorized.
What still needs the carrier
Green-light rules decide which loads may be booked. They do not replace the carrier's own obligations: the carrier keeps its authority, the rate confirmation is signed by the carrier or its authorized signer, and the carrier is paid directly. Anything unusual, such as a new broker, hazardous materials or a tight appointment, should still come to the carrier first.
Review them often
Fuel prices, seasons and personal plans change. Most carriers revisit their rules monthly, raising the minimum when the market is strong and adjusting lanes around home time.
You can try a set of rules against sample loads on our trucking page.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency or a licensed professional.
