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How to hire a dispatch manager

Dispatch manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring dispatch managers in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a dispatch manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per dispatch manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 6,416 dispatch managers in the US, and there are currently 2,120 job openings in this field.
  • Saint Cloud, MN, has the highest demand for dispatch managers, with 4 job openings.

How to hire a dispatch manager, step by step

To hire a dispatch manager, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a dispatch manager, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step dispatch manager hiring guide:

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

    Before you post your dispatch manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a dispatch manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A dispatch manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dispatch managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of dispatch managers.

    Type of Dispatch ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Dispatch Manager$15-37
    Shipping And Receiving SupervisorA shipping and receiving supervisor streamlines the shipping process for a more efficient company. The supervisors oversee and maintain the supplies and inventory through product receipt, storage, and delivery... Show more$13-22
    Warehouse LeadWarehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments... Show more$12-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • DOT
    • GPS
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Disciplinary Actions
    • Safety Regulations
    • CDL
    • Customer Complaints
    • Driver Logs
    • Service Calls
    • Dispatch Operations
    • Emergency Situations
    • Safety Rules
    • OTR
    • Customer Calls
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Utilize GPS tracking system in order to manage, trace and locate drivers within their assign locations.
    • Direct employees in identifying and correcting any unsafe conditions, eliminate avoidable accidents and improve department performance manage KPI's.
    • Introduce and implement the GPS system for driver tracking.
    • Renegotiate current LTL rate discounts with regional partner carriers.
    • Conduct defensive driving training classes and CDL license procedures and pretesting for qualify individuals.
    • Utilize RoadNet routing software to increase driver productivity, route efficiency and service levels.
    More dispatch manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your dispatch manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A dispatch manager salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, dispatch managers' average salary in florida is 34% less than in connecticut.
    • Seniority. Entry-level dispatch managers earn 59% less than senior-level dispatch managers.
    • Certifications. A dispatch manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a dispatch manager's salary.

    Average dispatch manager salary

    $50,499yearly

    $24.28 hourly rate

    Entry-level dispatch manager salary
    $32,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025

    Average dispatch manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Indiana$59,303$29
    2New Jersey$58,501$28
    3Nevada$58,204$28
    4New York$57,121$27
    5Michigan$55,757$27
    6Washington$55,475$27
    7Minnesota$55,301$27
    8Wisconsin$54,009$26
    9Pennsylvania$53,886$26
    10California$53,268$26
    11Tennessee$49,960$24
    12Georgia$49,178$24
    13Texas$48,883$24
    14Arizona$48,743$23
    15Colorado$48,094$23
    16Virginia$46,861$23
    17Florida$42,136$20

    Average dispatch manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    11 8 3 Lanes$70,276$33.79
    2Badger Bus$56,090$26.97
    3Cowan Systems$53,981$25.953
    4Balfour Beatty plc$53,658$25.80
    5Carter Lumber$52,358$25.17
    6Waste Management$51,114$24.57
    7Sunbelt Rentals$50,183$24.131
    8Unifi Manufacturing$50,134$24.10
    9Alliant Technologies$50,042$24.06
    10ACERTUS$50,029$24.05
    11Genz-Ryan Heating&AC$49,981$24.03
    12Parker and Sons$49,980$24.03
    13MV Transportation$49,934$24.014
    14Comcast$49,793$23.94
    15The Bristol$49,449$23.77
    16AmeriFleet$49,439$23.77
    17City of Reno$48,882$23.50
    18Robert Half$48,563$23.351
    19Knight Transportation$48,133$23.149
    20Randstad North America, Inc.$47,043$22.62
  4. Writing a dispatch manager job description

    A job description for a dispatch manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a dispatch manager job description:

    Dispatch manager job description example

    You will manage a team of 6 to 10 class A and B drivers for deliveries in the state of Florida. This will include customer relations regarding customer satisfaction, arrivals and if necessary, returns. Knowledge and experience with Safety and DOT compliance is very important. You will also create route development and analysis, cost reduction, payroll management. Fleet management and maintenance.

    Primary Responsibilities

    Coach, train, mentor and scheduling of all drivers for class A and B.

    Manage and coordination of a team of drivers.

    Maintain all Safety and DOT compliance rules and regulations.

    Route trucks in a cost-effective manner daily

    Respond to requests from customers and drivers with a keen sense of urgency.

    Stay up to date on changes and developments to DOT regulations and Driver Safety

    Keep management informed of all activities, jobsites, delivery issues, and/or Fleet issues.

    Manage drivers payroll to hit or exceed budget goals

    • Manage company delivery completion rate to hit or exceed budget

    Foster team building and inter-company member support.

    • Management of ELD and GPS systems and keep up to date.
    • Check routes for accuracy prior to days deliveries.
    • Manage, assign, and route all jobsite deliveries
    • Maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
    • Be respectful to others in all situations

    Qualification and Skills

    • 3-5 years prior experience in dispatch.
    • Professional interaction with all customers and team members
    • Accurate and timely completion of all paperwork
    • Attention to detail
    • Maintain confidentiality in daily operations
    • Timely and accurate completion of all administrative tasks.
    • Communication proficiency and sense of urgency
    • Technical aptitude to learn other systems.


    Benefits:

    Highly competitive base salary

    Company-paid PTO Comprehensive medical, dental, and disability benefit programs

    401k with company matching

    Health and wellness programs

    A culture that values the opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion


  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find dispatch managers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your dispatch manager job on Zippia to find and recruit dispatch manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting dispatch managers 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 dispatch manager

    Once you've decided on a perfect dispatch manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new dispatch manager 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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How much does it cost to hire a dispatch manager?

Recruiting dispatch managers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $50,499 per year for a dispatch manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for dispatch managers in the US typically range between $15 and $37 an hour.

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