PRIVACY POLICY
Last Updated: October 2023
At Skylink Dispatch Services ("we", "us", "our"), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal and business information of our carriers and drivers. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and share information when you use our dispatching services.
1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
To provide efficient dispatch services and negotiate rates on your behalf, we collect the following types of information:
- Business Verification: MC Authority Certificate, DOT Number, W9 Form, and Certificate of Insurance (COI).
- Personal Information: Driver Name, Phone Number, Email Address, and Driver's License details (if required for broker setup).
- Equipment Details: Truck/Trailer type, dimensions, max weight capacity, and equipment photos.
- Factoring Info: Notice of Assignment (NOA) and factoring company contact details for billing.
2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We use your data solely for the purpose of operating your business logistics:
- Broker Setup: Submitting your MC/W9/Insurance to brokers to get you approved to haul freight.
- Load Booking: Negotiating rates and signing Rate Confirmations on your behalf.
- Invoicing: Generating invoices and submitting paperwork to your factoring company or directly to brokers.
- Communication: Sending you load offers, route details, and check-call updates.
3. INFORMATION SHARING
We do not sell your data to third parties. Your information is only shared with parties necessary to complete a shipment:
- Freight Brokers & Shippers: To secure loads and verify authority.
- Factoring Companies: To ensure you get paid for delivered loads.
- Legal Compliance: If required by law (e.g., DOT inspections, FMCSA audits, or court orders).
4. DATA SECURITY
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your documents. Your MC authority, insurance certificates, and rate confirmations are stored in secure, encrypted cloud storage accessible only by authorized dispatchers.
5. COOKIES & TRACKING
Our website uses basic cookies to improve user experience and analyze site traffic. We do not use cookies to track your activity across other websites or for targeted advertising outside of our services.
6. SMS & DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS
By providing your phone number to Skylink Dispatch Services, you consent to receive text messages (SMS) regarding load offers, check-calls, and operational updates. Message and data rates may apply.
- Opt-In: You opt-in by signing our Dispatch Agreement or verbal consent during onboarding.
- Opt-Out: You may reply STOP to any text message to cancel communications at any time.
- Frequency: Message frequency varies based on load volume and active dispatch status.
7. LOCATION TRACKING DATA
To satisfy shipper requirements, we may collect real-time location data of the cargo while it is in your possession. This is done via:
- ELD Integration: Only if you grant us temporary access for a specific load.
- Tracking Apps: Third-party services like MacroPoint, Project44, or FourKites required by specific brokers.
- Check-Calls: Verbal or text-based location updates provided by the driver.
Note: We do not track your location when you are off-duty or not hauling an active load dispatched by us.
8. DATA RETENTION
We retain your business and personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, including:
- Tax & Accounting: Invoices and Rate Confirmations are kept for a minimum of 7 years for audit purposes.
- Operational History: Load history is retained to build your carrier profile and negotiate better rates based on past performance.
9. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA)
If you are a resident of California, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to Know: You may request details about the categories of personal information we collect.
- Right to Delete: You may request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (e.g., tax records).
- Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
10. THIRD-PARTY LINKS
Our services may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Factoring Portals, Load Boards, Government FMCSA sites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites.
11. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify active carriers of any material changes via email or a notice on our dashboard. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the new policy.
12. HOW TO CONTACT US
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights regarding your personal data, or need to update your business information, please contact us:
Houston, TX 77002
Updates to Our Privacy Policy
We regularly review our Privacy Policy to ensure total compliance with federal and state regulations. For more information on how consumer and business data is officially protected across the United States, you can review the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Privacy & Security guidelines.
If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify active owner-operators by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We highly encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
By continuing to use our freight dispatching services, you acknowledge and agree to the data practices outlined in this current Privacy Policy. If you have any specific concerns regarding how your MC authority or financial data is handled, please reach out to our team directly through our Contact Us page.