Say What?
Question: In your opinion, what makes a good dispatcher?
Paul Reynolds, 60, Williston, FL
Professional driving experience: 20 years
“Experience is important. Unfortunately, a lot of dispatchers don’t have the right kind of it. You have to know how to read a driver’s voice and the way they’re putting something across on Qualcomm to tell when someone is having an issue. You have to be able to read that and calm the situation, find out what’s wrong and deal with it if it’s within your ability.”
Bob Barnes, 47, Denver, CO
Professional driving experience: 22 years
“A good dispatcher knows realistically how much time it’s going to take for you to do what you gotta do. Instead, they just say pick up this load and be there tomorrow. You mean we’re going to have to drive 1,300 miles by tomorrow? We’ve done it, legally, but not on time. Dispatchers should know what we have to do. That’s why I think retired drivers make good dispatchers. They’re a little more in tune to what we’re going through out here.”
Patty Brodeur, 51, Elizabeth, CO
Professional driving experience: 14 years
“It’s almost impossible, but they should listen to their drivers. A lot of drivers are whiners, I know that, but when you’ve been on the road for several weeks and you just want to go home, you tend to start whining. A good dispatch will listen to them, and if they want to go home, let them go home. I understand that companies want to move the freight anyway they can, and I know dispatchers are really pressured to say whatever they can to make the driver do whatever the company needs the driver to do, but at least listen to the driver’s viewpoint.”
Darrell Oliver, 50, Franklin, OH
Professional driving experience: 30 years
“As a matter of fact, I’ve always to wanted to get into dispatch. What makes a good dispatcher? Someone who understands the driver. Someone who can get the driver home when he needs to be home. Someone who makes sure the driver get the loads and miles. Someone who basically takes care of the needs of the driver.”
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