Dedicated contract carriage (DCC) is a logistics arrangement in which a transportation provider supplies drivers, equipment, and management exclusively for a single customer. The customer gets the control and consistency of a private fleet without owning or managing the transportation assets — the carrier handles driver recruitment, vehicle maintenance, dispatch, and compliance, while the customer sets routing and service requirements.
DCC vs. Private Fleet vs. Common Carrier
- Private fleet: The company owns trucks and employs drivers directly — maximum control, but also full asset and labor management responsibility.
- Dedicated contract carriage: The carrier owns trucks and manages drivers, but operates exclusively for the customer — the operational benefits of a private fleet without the asset burden.
- Common carrier: Shared truck capacity with other shippers — less predictability but no fixed cost commitment.
When DCC Makes Sense
DCC is most cost-effective for shippers with consistent, predictable freight patterns that justify dedicated asset allocation. Companies converting from private fleets to DCC typically achieve 5–15% cost reductions by eliminating fleet management overhead while retaining service control. DCC is common in grocery distribution, retail store replenishment, and manufacturing supply chain operations where consistent daily or weekly routes are the norm.