Dispatchers keep freight, work crews, and equipment moving along the vast network of transit lines across the country and around the globe. Dispatchers send workers and service vehicles out to make installations, service calls, or emergency repairs. They set schedules for moving freight and equipment and keep in close contact with work site personnel to adjust schedules as needed. Dispatchers generally relay work orders and information to workers and field personnel using phones or 2-way radios. They track work progress, and record customer requests, expenses, charges, and inventory, and make reports as needed. They also keep work crews informed about delays caused by hazards such as road construction or poor weather conditions. Most dispatchers work in the trucking industry, taxi and limousine services, building equipment contractors, freight and rail transportation, or local messenger services. Schedules of 40 hours or more in a week are common in this field. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.
What they do:
Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.
On the job, you would:
Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
Prepare daily work and run schedules.
Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
Business
customer service
management
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Arts and Humanities
English language
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
changing what is done based on other people's actions
looking for ways to help people
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
notice when problems happen
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
Stress Tolerance
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Leadership
Cooperation
Adaptability/Flexibility
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Microsoft Dynamics
SAP business and customer relations management software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Mobile location based services software
Global positioning system GPS software
Situation resource tracking software
high school diploma/GED or some college usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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