Trucking companies have a unique way of running where employees are often in different cities, sometimes every across the country from each other. Drivers need a way to keep in contact with headquarters while they are on the road, and clients need a central point of contact in the case that something changes with the load a driver is going to deliver. This is where dispatchers come into the picture: they know which driver is where, how best to get ahold of them and can alert them if something changes or there is an emergency. If you want to be part of the trucking industry, but perhaps driving isn’t right for you then you could become a dispatcher for a trucking company. Here’s what you need to be a dispatcher.

Education & Qualifications

The qualifications needed to be a dispatcher will vary by company, as each company has different needs to meet and may deliver different kinds of goods. For most companies, though, you’ll need at least your high school diploma (or an equivalent). Some companies may look for education in logistics, transportation or even supply chain coordination. Most of them will also look for experience in the trucking, or shipping, industry because dispatchers need to have knowledge of transportation laws, load limits, inspections and various other safety regulations. Your experience in the industry is going to be incredibly important and something you’ll use daily in this role.

Professional Skills

While your qualifications are important, there are other skills employers will look for when considering you for a role as dispatcher. One of the most important parts of this job is your ability to communicate in a concise and effective manner. You will have to constantly relay information to drivers across the country so your ability to communicate effectively will be tested daily. You will also need to be incredibly organized as you’ll be required to keep permits, licenses and insurance information for all drivers in the company and be able to access them as required. In addition to communication and organization, you’ll also need knowledge of tracking and scheduling software so the appropriate loads are delivered as promised to clients.

Ability to be On Call

Most office jobs run Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, but truck drivers are often going 7 days a week and driving at all hours of the day. Being a dispatcher for a trucking company means you’ll need to be accessible to drivers at any time. They can call in the middle of the night with an insurance issue or a scheduling problem. You will often be working long hours behind a desk, but you will also need to be flexible in being available outside office hours. For this reason, you’ll need to be dependable and be able to juggle issues for various drivers and loads at one time.

Being a truck dispatcher is exciting and your days will never look the same. You’ll face new challenges every day and get to deal with drivers across the country, and perhaps even in other countries but you’ll need to be organized, on top of the routes your drivers are on and know exactly what’s going on with all drivers for the company. This will be a rewarding and exciting career, where you can keep your skills up to date with laws and regulations for the industry.