5 Qualities Often Found in Top Dispatchers
Have you ever dreamt of communicating with drivers all over the country? Transportation operations specialists often get to do just that, playing an essential role in the trucking and transport sector as they help ensure that goods get delivered on time and in one piece.
In fact, there’s a good chance that many of the objects around you right now are there at least in part thanks to the hard work of dispatchers, truckers, and other essential professionals. Working as a dispatcher involves many different responsibilities, and can come with many interesting challenges. Many top dispatchers, as a result, will share a few common qualities that help set them apart from the rest. Keep reading to find out what they are.
1. An Enthusiasm for Specialized Technology Could Make You a Good Fit for Dispatching
If you don’t shy away from technology, you might be an ideal fit for a career in dispatching. That’s because dispatchers often work with specialized software. This career path could even see you mastering satellite based systems! Of course, even if you feel a little intimidated about working with these types of programs, that doesn’t mean you can’t become a dispatcher. Transportation operations training will teach you everything you need to know to step into this role with confidence.
2. The Ability to Communicate With Clarity, Compassion, and Confidence
Studies have shown that the ways dispatchers behave are important to their drivers. Therefore, you need to be able to respond adequately and effectively to driver concerns and needs, and also to communicate your requirements with clarity to ensure the smooth functioning of operations. This requires empathy and compassion, but also authority and assertiveness. If you consider yourself a people person and aren’t afraid of a career that includes a little authority, you could be a top dispatcher-in-the-making.
3. Pros with Dispatcher Training Are Excellent at Multitasking
There are a lot of things you have to juggle as a dispatcher. Your tasks could encompass taking orders for your company, sending truckers to pick up and drop off materials, scheduling, and more. You will also need to monitor the progress of these activities and respond to situations that may be reported from the field. Sometimes things can get quite hectic. Utilizing your dispatcher training, you will need to be able to effectively prioritize and multitask to ensure that everything runs smoothly during your career.
4. Attention to Detail and a Sense of Responsibility
Dispatching is a highly detail-focused role with a lot of things going on at once. Not only do you need to multitask, but you need to pay attention to the details too. Knowing the whereabouts of your drivers and their goods, as well as conditions which may affect the probabilities of delay is crucial. It can be a lot to monitor at one time, and you need to make sure you don’t miss anything. Obstacles on transportation routes could possibly lead to late deliveries or even damaged goods if there are perishables being delivered. The responsibility for getting your drivers and their deliveries to their destinations on time falls to the dispatcher. As a result, if you’re good at noticing details, and have a strong sense of responsibility, those skills could help you excel in this career path.
5. The Talent to Stay Cool as a Cucumber in Stressful Situations
As a dispatcher, you may often encounter stressful and even emergency situations where you need to ensure the safety of your drivers and the goods being transported. The ability to keep calm and stay in control in such scenarios is paramount for success in this profession. Remaining cool and in charge helps you make the critical decisions necessary for the success of your operation, and maintain the satisfaction of your drivers and customers. If you’re good at managing stress, and don’t get intimidated by challenging situations, there’s a good chance you could make an excellent dispatcher.
Are you interested in pursuing a dynamic transport operations specialist career?
Contact CATI to learn more!