What makes a good/bad dispatcher?

A good dispatcher is priceless. The dynamics surrounding a quality dispatcher are virtually endless. But I’ll try and shed some light on it from the drivers perspective.

Drivers are all different, each driver will have their own unique way that they drive, some run hard and others don’t like running hard, some drivers may run hard sometimes but not other times, a drivers running style is not a one size fits all format. Some drivers run hard because they felt good that particular day.

Now it’s not the responsibility of a dispatcher to immediately know everything about his drivers and understand their style of running — that happens over time. Time is the dispatchers friend when it comes to learning his drivers. Time helps a dispatcher learn who on his board can do what. There are 3 types of drivers on a dispatchers board

A. being the very best. The creme’de la creme’
This driver almost never gets lost, rarely complains, is hardly ever late, keeps it professional, is easy to get along with and just knows what he’s doing.

B. This driver is also good but not as good as A.

C. This driver is the one all dispatchers don’t write home about, constantly gets into cluster f*** complains all the time, writes novels on the Qualcomm to the dispatcher, tears up the equipment, gets lost frequently, cries and whines all the time about being on the road, likes to stop often at truck stops, shuts the truck down at the first sign of snow flakes. This driver is probably not cut out for long haul driving.

Blitzkrieg freight or “Mission Impossibles” are loads so tight they have virtually no margin for error. Stopping to use the bathroom means risking on time delivery. Poor dispatchers do this. They dole out loads that are ridiculously tight. A good dispatcher won’t do that. Even if his driver is a “Strong Solo” A strong solo is a term that brokers and dispatchers use to identify drivers who are known to drive great distances without stopping and getting the job done even under the harshest conditions. Lately though, “Strong Solo” has become a euphemism for outlaw driver.
A good dispatcher also helps a driver become familiar with the trucking company’s way of doing business, he helps with the transition process.

There are good and bad dispatchers out there just like drivers. But when you get a good one, it’s a match made in heaven. Both driver and dispatcher are on the same page is a beautiful thing

 

picking loads from a board that suits your needs not someone elses is what makes a great dispatcher lol

 

I would bet most drivers would say don't micromanage.
Give me the load info. If there's a problem I'll let you know. If there's a problem on your end, let me know. Other than that we're good.

 

☝This.
Well said.