How do I get started as a truck dispatcher?
Asked by litl m
What is most important to this position? What sort of duties, hours and pay are involved? Is there a lot more dispatchers than jobs in the midwest?

Best Answer:
I started in the trucking business shortly after I graduated college. I am currently a terminal manager for a large trucking company. I have held several dispatch and fleet management positions as well as safety. I also drove for a couple of years. Getting into the field is not as hard as you might think. being in the right place at the right time helps. What you need are good people skills, the ability to communicate and resolve problems and good clerical skills, especially computer literacy. A degree is not neccesary. The first answer is absolutely correct in all he said, especially the salary range (around 28K to start). As you progress, you can make upwards of 40K plus depending on the size of the company and your duties. A lot of dispatchers start out on nights, which is a fast paced problem resolution shift. It was my first dispatch position also. Surf the web for companies in your area and go to their web sites to see what is open. Detail your resume to point out your communication skills as well as your computer proficiency. Sell yourself and your skills at the interview. Transportation and Logistics is a large field with positions open everywhere....Good Luck

Truck dispatchers are usually entry level positions in the business. You don't have to have a degree (although having one would never hurt, but it's not usually a requirement)---but you do have to have some common sense and very good communications skills (particulary in dealing with truck drivers, customers, shippers, receivers, sales people, csr's and other dispatchers). Depending on the company, you may work alternating shifts---although most dispatching positions are 7am to 5pm jobs. Pay is usually based on experience...entry level is around 28k a year on up. You will be responsible for giving driver directions to pickup and delivery facilities, writing t-chek or cash advances, setting pickup and delivery appointments, managing driver hours and the driver him/herself (that does vary on the company you decide to go work for) and ensure that loads are picked up and delivered on a timely basis. Some truck dispatchers are lumped in with customer service positions---others are lumped in with driver management services....so be sure you know what the job requirments are before applying. Be advised that the business is changing--there are separate departments for some of the items I listed above---but not all companies have a different departments such as "appointment setting" and "accessorials/detention" and "driver retention"...etc. The transportation/logistics field is a very good field to get into. I have seen many folks start out as dispatchers and end up as CEO's of some of the largest trucking/intermodal/LTL and brokerage companies in the world. EDIT: if you need assistance in finding such companies, I can help by providing phone numbers directly to hiring managers and hr personnel---I know quite a few trucking/brokerage/LTL companies in the midwest.
Answered by zenithomega

Examples: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/personnel/class/class_comp/cds/CODE5736.htm http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/personnel/class/class_comp/cds/CODE5726.htm http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%22Truck+Dispatcher%22 monster.com Careerbuilder.com hotjobs.com craigslist.com (by city) Go the job boards, there are job postings. The postings (descriptions) will give you a good idea of duties. You can search in several cities to see what the demand looks like. I found a training school (I don't know much about them) http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/9/prweb46004.htm
Answered by P G