TOP Things Best Truck Dispatchers Do Daily

Transportation of goods is a very widespread and demanded service. However, it is often quite difficult to arrange it singly. Especially when you need a truck dispatcher who specialises in organising the timely movement of cargo at the destination.

This qualified expert of the truck factoring company is an intermediary between the performers, carriers, and the owners of the cargo. The truck dispatchers’ function is to correctly organise the movement of trucks to the destination.

Truck Dispatcher’s Duties to Take into Consideration

Without dispatchers, truckers would not know where to go. These specialists of the truck factoring company play a key role in the logistic industry and are obliged to delve into all the features of cargo delivery. Truck dispatchers must:

prepare all the documents necessary for transportation;

specify the exact point of loading and unloading of the truck;

tell the carrier and driver about the type of cargo;

look for a specific truck if needed;

draw up and sign an agreement together with all needful data;

send confirmation of loading to the customer (cargo owner);

monitor uninterrupted delivery to the destination;

think over the best-matching route.

Doing the above tasks requires from dispatchers certain skills or education. In addition, it is necessary to be able to use the basic means of communication of the modern world: telephone, Internet, etc. After all, the work of truck dispatchers is associated with a double responsibility - they are responsible both to the sender and to the carrier of the cargo. The supervisor of the factoring company must constantly be aware so as not to incur financial responsibility in the event of any unforeseen situations.

Daily Routine of the Truck Dispatcher: To-Do List

A US freight dispatcher is an employee who directly influences the financial result of a truck factoring company. This expert selects loads, manages the driver, makes routes, and controls the delivery of the goods.

In addition, the dispatcher must be ready to deal with any abnormal situations (for example, the customer's refusal at the last stage of the transaction or a truck breakdown). It is a specialist who must monitor the situation and take care of its prompt solution, solve the problem by telephone or online so that all parties are satisfied.

The truck dispatcher is one of those who work a lot to ensure that the cargo is delivered. They help the freight owner and carrier decide how to get it to the destination. Therefore, the trucking expediter takes many things into account when receiving and transporting goods.

The person performing this work must have the appropriate knowledge and experience in order to be sociable and quickly respond to problems arising in the process. The dispatcher can find the vehicle, repair or direct the truck to the service station, or do much more that will benefit all parties involved.

No wonder the specialist with dispatching responsibilities does a lot of work every day. Having studied the experience of the truck factoring company Logity Dispatch, the top things that a professional dispatcher does every day have been compiled.

Optimization and Minimization of Company Costs & Transportation Time

One of the most important tasks of the truck dispatcher is to find ways to coordinate and manage commercial vehicles, cargo transportation, drivers, and even customers in order to maximize profits with minimal costs.

A good truck operator will always be able to competently, quickly, and creatively combine road haulage, choose the optimal route, quickly change it if necessary, coordinate the driver and, at the same time, create such conditions for the trucker so that he has time to rest on the road.

Identify and Indicate Special Requirements and Needs During Shipments

Unlike other types of business, in the truck factoring company, there is never the same cargo transportation and each order must be approached individually. When placing an order, the truck dispatcher finds out if the customer has special needs and wishes, what type of cargo will be transported, and what conditions must be met (for example, the presence of a refrigerator to maintain a certain temperature regime when delivering perishable goods).

In addition, the dispatcher must know and apply in his work all the mandatory requirements for organizing the transportation of special cargo (chemicals, light industrial goods, cattle, pets, livestock, fragile goods, etc.). The best operator can quickly determine the characteristics of the cargo and the conditions for its delivery, communicating the information to the carrier and driver. It will also help to complete all necessary paperwork on time or make sure all papers are in good order.

Always Be in Good Working Order

If you want your days to fly by quickly, get a job as a truck dispatcher. Operators, as a rule, do not have downtime and must constantly:

• monitor something;
• coordinate delivery, loading, or unloading;
• receive calls;
• discuss controversial issues with customers;
• manage routes throughout the entire work shift.

Therefore, professional traffic controllers are always organized, distinguished by quick thinking, ability to quickly and independently make decisions, and responsibility. They are easily adaptable and ready for high loads.

Use & Implementation of Modern Technologies

So that the truck dispatcher can do his job efficiently and quickly, special attention is paid to the organization and equipment of his workplace. The main tools of any supervisor are a computer and access to the Internet at high speed with constant stable access, as well as landline and mobile phones with a powerful battery.

An experienced truck dispatcher constantly monitors the situation on the screen and can simultaneously negotiate or enter information into tables and other reporting documents. So he uses every day:

• Excel, Word, and Google Docs;
• CRMs and databases;
• messengers for communication with clients and drivers;
• reporting software;
• browsers;
• maps and GPS navigators;
• programs for creating routes for freight transport.

In other words, supervisors must be tech-savvy. This is especially true for programs for managing logistics processes and ensuring safe transportation.

This is not a complete list of the work that a truck dispatcher performs on a daily basis. In addition to the above manipulations, these irreplaceable specialists must constantly improve, know well the drivers and other employees of the truck factoring company, legislation, traffic rules, and road safety.

They also need to be one step ahead and not give in to panic even if the situation gets out of control - dispatchers work with clients with whom they need to communicate correctly, as well as with truckmen, whom they replace eyes and ears.