VIP of the Operation
Dispatchers are a core component of any logistics operation. A team of quality or just one
quality dispatcher is enough to keep an operation running like a well oiled machine. If you are
about to get into the field of dispatching or are currently an employed dispatcher and are looking
for a way to step up your game, then this blog is certainly for you. With some mental preparation
and the right understanding of the volatile industry that is shipping, you will be well on your way
to becoming a high value dispatcher.
Basic Understanding, Compromise, and Mindset
To put it bluntly, if you are a person who appreciates showing up to more or less the same set of
tasks and the same events occurring on a daily basis, this job is not for you. The first step in
becoming a high value dispatcher is coming to the terms that you will have a rocky ride most
days. Days where everything goes according to plan will be rare and joyous but few in number.
If you are a person who gets frustrated with needing to improvise and making split decisions,
you can’t be a high value dispatcher. If you can handle this type of work, you need to steep
yourself deeper in this reality: “Things will change, nothing will go according to plan.” This is
huge because if you don’t let go of your desire to control things to a specific degree, you will
crack and go mad in the pursuit of working. This does NOT mean you give up and let go of your
reigns but understand it will be a daily battle. Getting into a more stoic mindset will be the first
step in reaching maximum efficiency.
Proactivity is Key
Once you have the proper mindset, the next most important element is staying ahead of the
game. Making sure you always have a fresh queue is crucial because things happen all of the
time. A foreman calls out, a truck breaks down, or god forbid a company or crew down right
flakes on you. These things happen and the best you can do is be prepared. To set yourself up
for success, have back up crew members and companies in mind to pick up the ball if it’s
dropped. The alternative would be banking on a crew or company to show up everytime. It’s just
not the world we live in and you will be caught like a chicken with its head cut off.
Always be sure to confirm your customers ahead of time before you finalize things with crews
and/or carriers. This avoids the scheduling of crews multiple times which in and of itself can
cause crews to flake on you, especially if they are independent contractors.
Establish New Contacts Regularly
Things change all the time. Companies evolve and at times are no longer able to work with you
and or the dynamic of the relationship evolves. The way to make sure you are never left high
and dry is by establishing contacts. Talk to as many professional crewmen and companies as
you can to make sure you always have up to 5 back ups and you’ll never have a hard day.