Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between transportation dispatchers and truck dispatchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a transportation dispatcher and a truck dispatcher. Additionally, a transportation dispatcher has an average salary of $36,218, which is higher than the $35,756 average annual salary of a truck dispatcher.
The top three skills for a transportation dispatcher include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for a truck dispatcher are truck loads, safety regulations, and customer service.
| Transportation Dispatcher | Truck Dispatcher | |
| Yearly salary | $36,218 | $35,756 |
| Hourly rate | $17.41 | $17.19 |
| Growth rate | -8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 12,205 | 61,928 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Transportation Dispatcher's job is to coordinate the transportation of goods by trucks with suppliers, drivers, etc. He/She schedules drivers for pickups and deliveries on specific routes. He/She maintains up-to-date records and reviews the driver log to check for violations and errors. As a Transportation Dispatcher, you will basically act as the middle man between several units and people. You will be required to always be in communication with the maintenance team to see which vehicles are ready for use and when the out-of-service ones will be returned to the fleet.
A truck dispatcher is tasked with scheduling deliveries, passenger transport, or shipments that are conducted by truck; they work hand in hand with truck drivers. They maintain communication with customers record shipment details, ensure pick-up times, and discuss any other issues. A track dispatcher is also responsible for tracking delivery trucks to ensure that goods arrive on time and undamaged. They may also be in charge of setting up routes.
Transportation dispatchers and truck dispatchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Dispatcher | Truck Dispatcher | |
| Average salary | $36,218 | $35,756 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $46,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Paramus, NJ | Livermore, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Northrop Grumman | Marathon Petroleum |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a transportation dispatcher and a truck dispatcher in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Dispatcher | Truck Dispatcher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation dispatchers' and truck dispatchers' demographics:
| Transportation Dispatcher | Truck Dispatcher | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1% | Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 7% | 7% |