What Do Dispatchers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Dispatchers schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress. They also monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules.

Other tasks include:

• Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
• Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
• Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
• Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
• Prepare daily work and run schedules.
• Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.

We asked Dispatchers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 44% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Dispatchers monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules. They oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.

A typical day for a Dispatcher will also include:

• Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
• Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
• Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
• Determine types or amounts of equipment, vehicles, materials, or personnel required, according to work orders or specifications.
• Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.

We asked some Dispatchers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	63% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	70% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	14% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	77% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Dispatchers also order supplies or equipment and issue them to personnel. They may also ensure timely and efficient movement of trains, according to train orders and schedules.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Dispatchers Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules. They might also Advise personnel about traffic problems, such as construction areas, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, or other hazards.

In addition, they Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Determine types or amounts of equipment, vehicles, materials, or personnel required, according to work orders or specifications.

To some Dispatchers, it is also their responsibility to Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Dispatcher, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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