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Any Monkey Can Be A Dispatcher!

PreacherRich

PreacherRich

Seasoned Expediter
Ok, how hard can it be to be a dispatcher? Is it just me or does everyone have the feeling that when we call into dispatch, though they say they are watching for us, that they are actually having drinks at the local pub? Maybe only watching the board on the commercial breaks during Days of Our Lives? Gotta be honest, I have had those thoughts. What a cake job, any monkey could be a dispatcher, right?

Well, yesterday I spent part of the day with a very good dispatcher. I run for 5 companies and he has gotten me over 50% of my loads this year. This guy has been dispatching trucks for years and is really good. Well I sit down and we chat for a bit then afternoon hits and I witnessed something I didn't expect. Brokers calling non stop with load offers, drivers calling in, checking with drivers to see if they will accept one of the loads offers, if no, call the next driver. Rate conformation sheets checked, call back broker, driver calls with questions, run credit check on broker offering the load, call another carrier about splitting and cross docking a load going to Canada, three and four loads working at once, call back after call back and all the time still bidding on loads on the boards. My load was booked during this time and i headed out to Lafayette, my head still spinning from the 3 hours of non stop madness that I just saw.

I walked out of there with a new appreciation for what our partners in this industry do. I repent of my former misguided opinion! I was truely in awe how the job was handled and the amount of and quality of work that was actually done. We can't do what we do if they dont do what they do. Take some time to appreciate and thank your quailty dispatchers and encourage those that aren't quite to the quality level yet.

To All My Dispatchers "You Rock!"
 
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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
It is a very under rated job...my hats off to those good ones....to the not so good/inexperienced....come on...pull up your shorts...LOL
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Any monkey can be a dispatcher... and any dumb ape can be a truck driver. But, not all dispatchers are monkeys and not all truck drivers are dumb apes. Having sat with good dispatchers at two major carriers I fully agree it is a demanding job and the good ones should be appreciated. I highly recommend that all drivers spend a couple of hours observing dispatch if at all possible.
 
PreacherRich

PreacherRich

Seasoned Expediter
LDB said:
Any monkey can be a dispatcher... and any dumb ape can be a truck driver. But, not all dispatchers are monkeys and not all truck drivers are dumb apes. Having sat with good dispatchers at two major carriers I fully agree it is a demanding job and the good ones should be appreciated. I highly recommend that all drivers spend a couple of hours observing dispatch if at all possible.
Click to expand...

I agree and I also think that because the two worlds are so different, that every dispatcher would benefit by spending 2 weeks OTR with a good driver.
 
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OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
We drivers only see in one dimension....the specific load being offered at that time....where a dispatcher is like 5th dimensional...he/she is juggling many things at a time which we are not privy to, nor does that concern us...only important thing is that 1 load...
 
jelliott

jelliott

Veteran Expediter
Motor Carrier Executive
US Army
Really great post. The more both sides understand the equation, the better the teamwork and end result.
 
scottm4211

scottm4211

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
It's all about respect on both sides. If I look at them as "dispatchers" instead of people, I deserve to be treated as a "driver" and not a person.
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
It is only as demanding as one makes it. I've too sat with a few and to me it wasn't as bad as what is made out here as. But as one of them said to me, and I have repeated here a few times, without the owner/driver, they have no job so there has to be a mutual respect.
 
Slo-Ride

Slo-Ride

Veteran Expediter
The really good ones can find freight & Have a few games of Yahoo cards going and still have facebook running in the background. All while on the clock.
 
Brisco

Brisco

Expert Expediter
Question comes to my mind is......

Was this Guy an Independent "Broker" type of Dispatcher working on his own, or was he a $9.00 an Hour "Seat Filler" like you see at the bigger companies? (FedEx-Panther-Etc)

Good Dispatchers are a reflection of how their work enviroment may be. If this Guy was sitting in his own little office making money for himself, great Kudos goes to him for putting in the extra work to make a decent living for not only himself, but also for the others that are going through him to make a living for themselves too. Now if he was a "Seat Filler" for one of the major companies going this extra mile, then I'd kinda guess he was a Fool or something. With Talent like you described, he clearly needs to get out on his own and start making some "Real Money". Know what I mean.......;)
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
There are good dispatchers at all carriers, at least I would have expected that. There are always people out there, even the $9 per hour seat fillers, who believe that they should always try to do their best, regardless of the position that they find themselves in.

Also, keep in mind, this business is not rocket science. There are far more difficult things in life than being a dispatcher/driver etc. All it really takes is solid effort to do a good job.
 
R

Rocketman

Veteran Expediter
PreacherRich said:
I agree and I also think that because the two worlds are so different, that every dispatcher would benefit by spending 2 weeks OTR with a good driver.
Click to expand...

Great Post by the way. As for the dispatcher spending time on the road. It would help no doubt, but the better dispatchers have a respect for the drivers even without the experience of being on the road. I've had dispatchers tell me before "we know what you guys have to deal with to get this stuff done".

I couldn't do a dispatcher's job for 5 minutes. Multi-tasking is not one of my strong points..and they are masters at it.

I have spent time in the dispatch office on a few occassions. It also helps build a relationship with them. When signing on with a new company, I would suggest to always spend some time in the dispatch area, if possible. It helps build a relationship immediately. It helps that they can put a face to a name/truck #. Even veteran drivers can benefit from an afternoon spent with dispatch.
 
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