Last Updated: May 15th, 2022 by
Trucks form the backbone of the nation’s industries by moving cargo and equipment to where they’re needed. Truck dispatchers are crucial to that process to ensure that trucks are precisely where they need to be at all times.
Learning how to become a truck dispatcher can be a challenging and rewarding process. In this guide, you’ll know what that process will look like for you, as well as the rewards you can enjoy in that role.
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Job Description
As a truck dispatcher, your responsibility is to communicate with clients on behalf of your employer and the truck drivers you dispatch. Your goal is to understand their trucking needs and cater to them as best as possible.
To do that, you’ll schedule and coordinate trucks to pick up and deliver anything from cargo to construction equipment. You must dispatch the correct trucks to suit the client’s needs.
You’ll coordinate trucks on the road by relaying information between the drivers and the clients. More importantly, you’ll review truck routes and performance to look for ways to improve.
Read More: How to Become a Truck Driver. Looking to spend time on the road? Stop by our related article to see what it takes to become a truck driver.
What Does an Average Day for a Truck Dispatcher Look Like?
Before you decide to learn how to become a truck dispatcher, you must understand what they do daily.
So, here is what an average day on the job will look like for you as a truck dispatcher.
Preparing Truck Driver Schedule
As a truck dispatcher, your overall role is to coordinate trucks to pick up and deliver clients’ goods. So, one of your first tasks for the day is to prepare the schedules that your truck drivers will follow.
More importantly, you must also start your day by checking that the trucks you’ve dispatched are on schedule.
For example, suppose there are any delays. In that case, you’ll have to adjust the schedule to prevent them from affecting other customers’ pickups and deliveries.
Planning Routes
With some employers, you’ll also have to spend a portion of your day planning the trucks’ routes.
This part of your day can be tricky and require a lot of research. For example, some roads might have weight limits that are too low for the trucks you’re sending out.
So, you’ll have to find safe and efficient routes for your trucks to travel on to reach their destinations.
Monitor Truck Movements
You can plan the best routes possible, but that won’t help much if the truck drivers don’t follow them. So, you’ll use the company’s tracking software to monitor truck movements.
When you find that trucks don’t follow the routes you assign, you can communicate with the drivers to find out why.
It could be that the routes you’ve planned aren’t the best option, which then gives you a chance to learn from your drivers.
Communicate with Clients
Truck drivers don’t communicate directly with clients. That’s where you come in.
So, a part of your day will be spent communicating with clients. You’ll do that on the phone, via email, and face to face.
You’ll collect information from the clients to understand their needs. At the same time, you’ll also provide them with updates on the trucks that you’ve dispatched for them.
Review Truck Driver Logs
These days, trucks have trackers and other sensors on them. These sensors log everything about a truck’s movements, from the routes they take to their speeds and travel times.
At the end of your day, you’ll review those logs to ensure that everything is moving smoothly as it should.
Process for Becoming a Truck Dispatcher
Here’s the thing about learning how to become a truck dispatcher: there aren’t any strict education, training, or certification requirements for this role.
Because of that, the requirements will differ between employers. However, most will only require a high school diploma or GED to get started.
So, while most steps are optional, here is what the process could look like for you to become a truck dispatcher.
1. Start Preparing in High School
The most common requirement to work as a truck dispatcher is a high school diploma or GED.
Still, if you’re currently in high school, there are some courses you can take to get a head start on your career.
For example, some elective courses you can take include:
- Computer skills
- Office procedures
By taking courses like those, you’ll get a head start on building your truck dispatcher career.
2. Get a Degree in Logistics or Transportation
A college degree is not compulsory to work as a truck dispatcher. Most employers do not require you to have a college degree to work for them in that role.
However, getting an associate’s or bachelor’s degree will set you up for success in 2 ways.
Firstly, a degree in fields like logistics or transportation will give you a strong understanding of the industry as a whole. From there, you’ll understand how trucks fit in the industry and how your role as a dispatcher will keep things running smoothly.
Secondly, having a college degree will help you in the long run as you work your way up the ladder. That will give you an advantage when you pursue leadership and management roles in the company.
3. Gain Experience in Logistics or Transportation
Many truck dispatcher employers also prefer if you have some kind of prior experience in logistics or transportation. Of course, you can still land a job without this experience, though having it will give you a deeper understanding of the role and put you at an advantage.
You can gain this experience by pursuing an internship or work experience in logistics and transportation companies.
Working in a role that interacts with truck drivers will undoubtedly help you understand the impact of your decisions as a dispatcher later on in your career.
4. Learn to Use Transportation Management Software (TMS)
Freight dispatch companies these days rely on transportation management software or (TMS). You’ll also put yourself at a further advantage by learning how to use the software most commonly used by employers in your area.
To find out which ones are used the most, be sure to check the job requirements on truck dispatcher job posts in your area. In addition, employers will often list the kinds of software they use, which will give you an idea of which ones to focus on.
Of course, your future employer will provide you with on-the-job training for the TMS they use when they hire you.
5. Pursue a Truck Dispatcher Training and Certification
Lastly, you can also choose to pursue a truck dispatcher training course. You can follow these courses online or at a transportation academy/school.
These courses will help you understand everything you need to know about working as a dispatcher. Most of them only take a few days, and you’ll receive a certificate upon completion.
Again, this step is not compulsory as many employers do not require any training or certification. However, a truck dispatcher training course will equip you with all the knowledge you need to adapt quickly to your role and succeed in the long run.
Are You Suited for a Truck Dispatcher Career? Skills, Credentials, Tools and Technology
Learning how to become a truck dispatcher requires more than just classroom learning and hands-on training. The process also requires you to have or develop a particular set of skills that will make you successful in the long run.
Here are some of the skills and proficiencies you must have to work as a truck dispatcher.
Personality and Skills
According to the Occupational Information Network (O*Net), you must have coordination, monitoring, and communication skills to succeed in this role.
As a truck dispatcher, your job is to ensure that a truck gets to where the client needs it. Quite often, you’re also juggling several trucks at once. So, coordination is critical to make that happen smoothly.
While those trucks are on the road, you’ll need to apply your monitoring skills to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Doing that ensures the trucks and their cargo stay on schedule at all times.
Last but certainly not least, your communication skills are critical to this role. Being a dispatcher means you’re the middle person between the truck drivers and the clients. You’ll keep both sides updated and clear any misunderstandings that happen.
Credentials and Proficiencies
O*Net also lists proficiencies in Transportation, Administration, and Customer Service as being crucial for the role of the truck dispatcher.
Strong proficiency in transportation will help you succeed in this role. You’ll manage different kinds of trucks from your office that transport materials and cargo of all types. Your proficiency is necessary to ensure you dispatch the correct trucks to move the freight.
There is a lot of paperwork that comes with transporting goods on trucks. So, you must be proficient in administration, particularly in handling and submitting the correct documents on time.
Lastly, you must also have a deep understanding of customer service.
Remember: you’re not just interacting with truck drivers. But you’re also interacting with clients who are paying for your services. Managing expectations, handling problems, and keeping clients happy is part of the job.
How Does a Truck Dispatcher Find Work?
After you learn how to become a truck dispatcher, you can apply your skills and knowledge by finding a job at a company that hires truck dispatchers.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), industries that rely on most truck dispatchers the most include:
- Truck Transportation – e.g. companies that use trucks to move cargo.
- Building Equipment Contractors – e.g. companies that use trucks to transport building equipment and other vehicles.
- Road Transportation Support Activities – e.g. companies that maintain bridges, tunnels, and highways.
- Local Government – e.g. trash pickup and other local government services.
- Investigation and Security Services – e.g. transporting non-emergency safety and security equipment.
By focusing your job search on companies in those fields, you’ll increase your chances of landing an interview and securing a position as a truck dispatcher.
How to Apply for a Job as a Truck Dispatcher
When applying for jobs as a truck dispatcher, start by searching your local area for companies that rely heavily on truck dispatchers. That way, the chances will be higher if they have a job opening now or have one in the near future.
Once you identify those companies, check their official websites for truck dispatcher job openings that you can apply for. Most employers these days advertise job openings directly. So, you can try to find those job listings on a Careers or Jobs page on the company’s website.
Alternatively, you can also contact them directly by phone, email, or by walk-in (if possible). By contacting them directly, you’ll get information on job openings faster.
Plus, it’s an excellent way to show that you’re interested in potentially working for them.
Also, you should submit your resume or CV whenever possible. That way, those companies will have your information on file if they ever need truck dispatchers in the future.
What is the Average Salary of a Truck Dispatcher?
On average, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that truck dispatchers earn $44,860 a year.
From that number, the BLS also finds that:
- Dispatchers in the top 90th percentile earn $67,680 a year
- Dispatchers in the bottom 10th percentile earn $26,560 a year
By looking at these numbers, you can decide for yourself whether or not it’s worth devoting your time and energy to learning how to become a truck dispatcher.
Where Do Truck Dispatchers Earn the Most?
The BLS also offers insight into the locations where truck dispatchers can earn a higher average salary.
According to BLS, these are the top 5 highest paying states for truck dispatchers:
- Alaska: $59,990
- Washington $56,150
- District of Columbia: $55,160
- North Dakota: $53,800
- New York: $52,430
How Can Truck Dispatchers Earn More?
As a truck dispatcher, the 2 best ways to increase your earning potential are training and further education.
Going through a truck dispatcher training course isn’t necessary for all employers. However, taking the initiative to pursue such a course before applying for a job can give you more power to negotiate your salary.
Besides that, getting a degree in logistics, transportation, or similar fields can also be advantageous.
Aside from helping you earn more in the long run, a degree would also help you advance further in your career into leadership positions.
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Truck Dispatcher Job Growth
The Occupational Information Network (O*Net) estimates that the job market for non-emergency dispatchers (including truck dispatchers) will grow by 1%-5% between 2020 and 2030. O*Net describes that growth rate as being ‘slower than average’.
Still, that growth figure is a positive number. So, learning how to become a truck dispatcher is still worth it for you.
There will undoubtedly be more jobs for truck dispatchers in the coming years, but you can expect a reasonable amount of competition for those jobs.
Top 3 Similar Jobs
There aren’t any formal specializations for truck dispatchers. However, you should also be aware that other jobs have plenty of similarities.
So, if you prefer not to work with truckers and trucks, you can consider one of these 3 other fields that require similar dispatching skills and knowledge:
Police, Ambulance, and Fire Dispatcher
One job area with a strong demand for dispatchers is emergency services. That includes dispatchers for police, ambulance, and fire departments nationwide.
Dispatching the correct vehicles and equipment on time is crucial in these areas, as the stakes can literally be life or death.
Air Traffic Controller
Let’s suppose you prefer working around aircraft like planes and helicopters. In that case, you should also consider a career as an air traffic controller. You’ll dispatch aircraft that move both people and cargo in this role.
Railroad Dispatcher
Lastly, the railroad is another place where dispatchers are required. Similarly, you’ll schedule and dispatch trains that move people and things alike.
Professional Associations
You can’t truly learn how to become a truck dispatcher without building connections in the industry.
You can network and find mentors through associations like:
National Dispatch and Freight Certification Association (NDFCA)
American Trucking Associations (ATA)
National Association of Independent Freight Dispatchers (NAIFD)
The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC)
Transport Intermediaries Association (TIA)
Top Colleges and Universities
You don’t necessarily need a degree to learn how to become a truck dispatcher. However, pursuing a degree in fields like logistics and transportation can give you the upper hand in this industry.
Here are some of the top colleges and universities for this field of study: