How to hire a city dispatcher

How to hire a city dispatcher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step city dispatcher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a city dispatcher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new city dispatcher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a city dispatcher, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a city dispatcher to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a city dispatcher that fits the bill.

   This list presents city dispatcher salaries for various positions.

   Type of City Dispatcher	Description	Hourly rate
   City Dispatcher		$11-39
   Yardmaster/Customer Service/Crew Dispatching	A yardmaster/customer service/crew dispatching officer functions differently depending on their industry or place of employment. Most of their responsibilities revolve around dealing with providing customer support and services, responding to inquiries and correspondence, addressing issues and concerns, providing corrective measures, and producing progress reports... Show more	$12-18
   Dispatch Coordinator	A dispatch coordinator is primarily in charge of dispatching and tracking vehicles that provide different services. The extent of their duties varies upon their industry or institution of employment... Show more	$14-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Locations
   • Customer Demand
   • Customer Expectations
   • DOT Regulations
   • Data Entry Functions
   • Outbound Operations
   • Delivery Route
   • Cross-Dock Operation
   • LTL
   • Driver Performance
   • Hazardous Materials
   • City Operations
   • EMS
   • Driver Logs

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage dot hrs for drivers as far as what tasks can be done in a certain amount of time.
   • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation and warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
   • Guide drivers as they are on the road delivering groceries at various locations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your city dispatcher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A city dispatcher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, city dispatchers' average salary in montana is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level city dispatchers 71% less than senior-level city dispatchers.
   • Certifications. A city dispatcher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a city dispatcher's salary.

   Average city dispatcher salary

   $44,847yearly

   $21.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level city dispatcher salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a city dispatcher job description

   A good city dispatcher job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a city dispatcher job description:

   City dispatcher job description example

   ABOUT THE COMPANY: American Expediting is the nation's premier custom transport provider. Our people are smart, creative problem-solvers dedicated to crafting custom transport, logistics, warehousing, and distribution solutions for some of the world's most dynamic brands. Our reputation for excellence is hard-earned, with 99.3% on-time delivery performance for mission-critical, time-critical shipments. And our focus on continuous innovation means we're always ready to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers.

   SUMMARY: If you are looking for a place to start your career, American Expediting could be just the place! City Express – American Expediting’s latest acquisition and one of Boston’s most well-established delivery services – is seeking a dispatcher to join the team. If you enjoy lots of variety, a fast-paced environment and are passionate about having a positive impact on the lives of patients, this job could be a good fit for you! And don't worry, you don't need to be an experienced dispatcher when you start, we'll teach you the business.

   REPORTS TO: Operations Manager

   RESPONSIBILITIES:

   · Process service requests and verifying shipping documentation where applicable

   · Dispatch jobs according to customer requests, specifications or needs

   · Manage activities throughout the order fulfillment and transportation cycle to make sure established deadlines are met

   · Optimizing resources for the highest quality service available

   · Determine response needed to deal with emergencies, accidents, and breakdowns effectively and appropriately.

   · Communicate Chain of Custody standards

   · Other duties/tasks as assigned

   SKILLS:

   · Excellent verbal communication and problem-solving skills

   · Interpersonal skills; ability to foster teamwork and motivate/coach others.

   · Familiar with time zones and military time

   · Decisive under pressure and time constraints

   · Knowledge of local and regional geographical area; accurately and quickly read maps

   · Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Email

   · Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service

   QUALIFICATIONS:

   · High School diploma/GED

   · Dispatching experience is a plus

   · Flexibility in working hours required

   · Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right city dispatcher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with city dispatchers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit city dispatchers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your city dispatcher job on Zippia to find and recruit city dispatcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting city dispatchers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new city dispatcher

   Once you've selected the best city dispatcher candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new city dispatcher first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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