What does a truck dispatcher do?

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.
Truck dispatcher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real truck dispatcher resumes:
- Manage customer service satisfaction by providing update eta and location of drivers.
- Develop and quoted rates to shippers and agents.
- Handle and resolve problems as they arise with shippers and drivers.
- Guide truck drivers to donation pick up locations, via computer and GPS location.
- Provide real time GPS tracking of traffic and all drivers on the road as dispatcher for the company.
- Excel as an OTR refrigerate dispatcher and are key in the the company's adoption of Mcleod software for dispatch functions.
- Coordinate payroll, monitor compliance and regulatory.
- Coordinate paperwork and documentation, including payroll.
- Discuss cable television equipment operation with customers over telephone to explain equipment usage and to troubleshoot equipment problems.
- Coordinate guest limousine reservation requests with casino hosts and VIP personnel.
Truck dispatcher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Truck Dispatchers are proficient in Truck Loads, Safety Regulations, and Customer Service.
We break down the percentage of Truck Dispatchers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Truck Loads, 23%
Worked with reefer and dry loads; LTL and Full truck loads
- Safety Regulations, 15%
Followed DOT regulations, Hazmat federal regulations, complied with safety regulations and hours of services.
- Customer Service, 13%
Develop and promote positive effective customer service relations.
- Delivery Appointments, 11%
Dispatched more than thirty truck drivers daily Managed invoices Scheduled pick-up and delivery appointments with clients
- Owner Operators, 5%
Negotiated and brokered deals between owner operators and shipping companies.
- GPS, 4%
Utilized GPS enhanced technology to locate company owned trucking.
"truck loads," "safety regulations," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that truck dispatchers use at work. You can find even more truck dispatcher responsibilities below, including:
The three companies that hire the most truck dispatchers are:
- Marathon Petroleum13 truck dispatchers jobs
- Spec's3 truck dispatchers jobs
- Crowley Holdings Inc.2 truck dispatchers jobs
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Truck dispatcher vs. 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. There are also instances when they have to manage schedules, prepare presentations, and maintain accurate records. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to a company's policies and guidelines, all while maintaining a healthy and productive environment for everyone.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, truck dispatcher responsibilities require skills like "keeping track," "truck loads," "safety regulations," and "owner operators." Meanwhile a typical yardmaster/customer service/crew dispatching has skills in areas such as "data entry," "outbound calls," "inbound calls," and "payroll." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that yardmaster/customer service crew dispatchings earn slightly differ from truck dispatchers. In particular, yardmaster/customer service crew dispatchings are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a truck dispatcher. Additionally, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Truck dispatcher vs. Dispatch assistant
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. In emergency dispatch centers, they answer calls from the public and coordinate police cars, ambulances, or fire trucks to respond to emergencies, all while staying on the line with the caller. A dispatch coordinator may also work trucking or delivery companies where they are in charge of coordinating shipping details and schedules, managing routes, and monitoring the vehicles.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that truck dispatcher responsibilities requires skills like "keeping track," "safety regulations," "owner operators," and "equipment availability." But a dispatch assistant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "data entry," "emergency calls," "payroll," and "cad."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Dispatch assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than truck dispatchers. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Truck dispatcher vs. Dispatch coordinator
A dispatch technician specializes in providing technical support to clients, particularly when it comes to network services. They primarily gather client information, identify their needs, sort out emergency and non-emergency calls, help clients troubleshoot issues, process requests, coordinating field technician services when necessary, and provide step-by-step instructions to solve problems. They may also call clients to follow-up on their requests and offer additional support, aiming for client satisfaction. Moreover, as a dispatch technician, it is essential to maintain records of all calls and transactions while adhering to guidelines and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from truck dispatcher resumes include skills like "keeping track," "truck loads," "safety regulations," and "owner operators," whereas a dispatch coordinator is more likely to list skills in "data entry," "excellent time management," "windows," and "emergency calls. "
Dispatch coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $42,476. Comparatively, truck dispatchers have the highest earning potential in the energy industry, with an average salary of $39,027.When it comes to education, dispatch coordinators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to truck dispatchers. In fact, they're 1.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Truck dispatcher vs. Dispatch technician
Types of truck dispatcher
Updated January 8, 2025











