Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Dispatch.Direct ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our auto transport management platform, website, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using Dispatch.Direct, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you voluntarily provide when registering for an account, using our services, or communicating with us:

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, company name, and password
• Business Information: MC number, DOT number, company address, website URL, and business logo
• Transaction Data: Order details, vehicle information, pickup/delivery locations, pricing, and payment information
• Customer Data: Information about your customers that you enter into the system for shipping purposes
• Communications: Messages sent through our platform, support requests, and feedback
• Documents: Bills of lading, invoices, inspection photos, and e-signatures

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Service, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the platform, and click patterns
• Location Data: GPS coordinates when using tracking features (with your permission)
• Log Data: Server logs, error reports, and system activity

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services:

• Payment Processors: Transaction confirmations and billing details from Stripe
• Verification Services: MC/DOT verification data from FMCSA databases
• Mapping Services: Distance and route calculations from Google Maps

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Delivery

• Creating and managing your account
• Processing and fulfilling transport orders
• Generating quotes and calculating pricing
• Facilitating communication between brokers and carriers
• Providing real-time shipment tracking
• Processing payments and billing

3.2 Service Improvement

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve features
• Training our AI pricing models
• Identifying and fixing technical issues
• Developing new features and services

3.3 Communication

• Sending transactional emails (order confirmations, status updates)
• Responding to support requests
• Sending service announcements and updates
• Marketing communications (with your consent)

3.4 Legal and Security

• Preventing fraud and unauthorized access
• Complying with legal obligations
• Enforcing our Terms of Service
• Protecting the rights and safety of our users

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Your Consent

We share information when you direct us to, such as when a broker shares order details with an assigned carrier.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform:

• Stripe: Payment processing
• SendGrid: Email delivery
• Google Maps: Mapping and distance calculations
• OpenAI: AI-powered quote generation (anonymized data only)
• Cloud Hosting: Data storage and infrastructure

4.3 Business Transactions

If Dispatch.Direct is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or the public.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our platform is encrypted using 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption
• Secure Storage: Data is stored in secure data centers with physical and electronic access controls
• Password Protection: Passwords are hashed using bcrypt with salt
• Access Controls: Employee access to user data is limited and logged
• Regular Audits: We regularly review and update our security practices

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 Access and Portability

You can access your account information at any time through your profile settings. You may request a copy of your data by contacting us.

6.2 Correction

You can update your account information through your profile settings or by contacting support.

6.3 Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and personal data by contacting us. Note that we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (such as completed transaction records).

6.4 Communication Preferences

You can manage your email notification preferences in your account settings. You may opt out of marketing emails at any time, but transactional emails related to your account and orders will still be sent.

6.5 California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the CCPA, including the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, and opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information).

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic functionality like authentication and security
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Service.

8. Third-Party Services and Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Our embeddable widgets (quote forms and tracking widgets) may be placed on third-party websites. Information collected through these widgets is governed by this Privacy Policy.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child, we will take steps to delete it.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may also send you an email notification.

Your continued use of the Service after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: contact@dispatch.direct
• Website: dispatch.direct/contact