A dispatcher looks at a schedule that includes all of his drivers, where they are coming from, where they are at any moment, and where they are going.
A dispatcher has to plan ahead, looking for loads for drivers to pick up so the driver is not just sitting and making no money.
The size of a company can determine what duties are required of a dispatcher.
A small company dispatcher may only have 10 drivers but have more duties than the dispatchers at a larger company, who has more that 50-100 drivers to manage.
Generally, within a small company, a dispatcher not only schedules drivers, but has a lot of other responsibilities. They provide drivers with the name and address of where they need to pick up and deliver freight, along with the pickup and delivery times.
Often providing drivers with weather reports along any given route, providing the driver with alternative routes.
The dispatcher negotiates for loads with brokers, inputs the rate confirmation details into a computer system, verifies that drivers received signed bill of lading, obtains a copy from the driver, then sends the copy to the broker for verification of piece count, damaged freight detention, and lumper fees.
If the dispatcher is working within a larger company they may have more drivers, but a lot less responsibilities.
The dispatcher may only need to keep up with where the driver is at any given time and provide the driver with load information, while other member of the company take care of all the other details.
Keep Drivers Moving
The dispatcher, starts looking ahead, checking load boards for more freight to keep the drivers moving.
Depending on the area and demand for trucks versus freight it may take one call to a broker or it could take several calls over a few days.
Many times, drivers sit waiting for loads, while the dispatcher continually checks load boards and calls contacts for freight.
Many times, the dispatcher has to take loads for much less than it cost to operate the truck, but that is better than paying a driver to sit, while making no money hauling freight.