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The differences between load planners and dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a load planner, becoming a dispatcher takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a load planner has an average salary of $40,526, which is higher than the $35,328 average annual salary of a dispatcher.
The top three skills for a load planner include logistics, hub and DOT. The most important skills for a dispatcher are customer service, data entry, and computer aided dispatch.
| Load Planner | Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $40,526 | $35,328 |
| Hourly rate | $19.48 | $16.98 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 16,050 | 5,818 |
| Job satisfaction | 1 | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Load Planners are responsible for optimizing and streamlining the process of freight transportation. Their duties include creating profitable network transport strategies involving routing, optimization, and load planning, implementing system parameters, attending to client's emails and calls, and executing corrective action. They are responsible for tracking pick-up and delivery time, participate in carrier negotiation, and carrying out shipment expeditions. Load Planners also produce service reports, chair meetings, and facilitate automation initiatives. They conduct carrier escalation, reports approval, and lead cross-training sessions to improve operational competency.
Dispatchers are generally responsible for coordinating with the customers regarding the delivery status of the products and providing precise logistics and the fastest transportation routes to the professional drivers to ensure smooth and timely deliveries. A dispatcher is required to monitor the driver's location, strictly track road situations at all times to provide real-time updates for the customers, and advise the driver for alternative routes. Dispatchers also need to address possible customer complaints and process scheduling accurately to avoid inconsistencies in the delivery time.
Load planners and dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Load Planner | Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $40,526 | $35,328 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $60,000 | Between $27,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Mt. San Antonio College |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a load planner and a dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Load Planner | Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between load planners' and dispatchers' demographics:
| Load Planner | Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 38.1% Female, 61.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.8% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |