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Dispatchers

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by furkster, Oct 25, 2008.

  1. Oct 25, 2008 #1
    furkster

    furkster Bobtail Member

    14
    0
    Sep 13, 2008
    Ripon, California
    0
    I have been offered jobs with two different companies now, as a dispatcher(I have a lot of computer experience as well as been a driver in the past) how much does a dispatcher make now days?

    Anyone want to give up some figures for a west coast (northern Cali, Bay area) disptcher?

    What should I expect money wise if I take on one of these jobs?

    :biggrin_2554:
     
    furkster, Oct 25, 2008
    furkster, Oct 25, 2008
    #1
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  3. Oct 25, 2008 #2
    Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

    2,122
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    Feb 13, 2008
    Denver, CO
    0
    Rumor has it that they make less than drivers...
     
    Lurchgs, Oct 25, 2008
    Lurchgs, Oct 25, 2008
    #2
  4. Oct 26, 2008 #3
    slodsm

    slodsm Light Load Member

    255
    100
    Jan 19, 2008
    Tyler TX
    0
    No wonder they are always irritable.
     
    slodsm, Oct 26, 2008
    slodsm, Oct 26, 2008
    #3
  5. Oct 26, 2008 #4
    furkster

    furkster Bobtail Member

    14
    0
    Sep 13, 2008
    Ripon, California
    0
    Seems kinda weird that no one knows what a dispatcher makes. I thought the same thing (makes less than a trucker). But how much less? If the average OTR driver in a company is making 50k a year what percentae less would a dispatcher make, 5%, 10%?
    If it was 10% less than the average that would be 45k.

    I would like to know what to base a request on if I decide to go toward dispatch. I actually would rather drive, but if the money is ok, who knows.
     
    furkster, Oct 26, 2008
    furkster, Oct 26, 2008
    #4
  7. Oct 26, 2008 #5
    witchwaywest

    witchwaywest Medium Load Member

    327
    105
    Dec 8, 2007
    Monroe New York
    0
    California median income for truck dispatchers is around $38,000.00.Tops out around $46,000.00.Our dispatchers back on the east coast are in the mid 40 range to start and are salaried.They put in mandatory 50 hour weeks and have other duties such has inbound reports and outbound projections.They also handle how many drivers are needed for the day and how many drivers are needed in a certain area depending on freight levels.Most seem to handle the stress well but when the weather gets bad and the freight levels are high and the amount of trucks available is low they do tend to get stressed out.I couldn't handle being a dispatcher but maybe it would be a good fit for you.
     
    witchwaywest, Oct 26, 2008
    witchwaywest, Oct 26, 2008
    #5
    furkster Thanks this.
  8. Oct 26, 2008 #6
    RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
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    Can anybody survive in CA on $38,000 ?
    Be careful who you work for and how they have you push their drivers . Allowing log book falsification is a felony . If DOT finds falsified logs during an audit or a disgruntled driver records you telling him to violate HOS you could face felony charges or be personally sued if a driver violating HOS has a serious accident . The first thing lawyers do in a serious truck accidents is depose the driver's logs and records of all loads he hauled for the past 2 years along with fuel and toll receipts , etc. .
     
    RickG, Oct 26, 2008
    RickG, Oct 26, 2008
    #6
    furkster Thanks this.
  9. Oct 27, 2008 #7
    furkster

    furkster Bobtail Member

    14
    0
    Sep 13, 2008
    Ripon, California
    0
    I think I could get by on the 46k per year but 36 would not work for me.

    I would not ask a driver to do that, if the company forced me to run someone illegal I would not work there.

    I am first and foremost a driver, that is what I want to do, being new in the industry (again) I am finding it difficult to find the "perfect" fit job wise. The jobs are there, I am just not qualified for them. I have intended to "do my time" to earn the right to apply for the jobs I really want, from the beginning. But it was interesting that I was being offered these dispatch jobs, with no real over the road experience recently.

    Thanks for the info, I appreciate it a lot.
     
    furkster, Oct 27, 2008
    furkster, Oct 27, 2008
    #7
  10. Oct 27, 2008 #8
    Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

    2,122
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    Feb 13, 2008
    Denver, CO
    0
    Disptachers, as a rule, have no driving experience. They SHOULD be familiar with the HOS and company policies, but even that seems... a bonus
     
    Lurchgs, Oct 27, 2008
    Lurchgs, Oct 27, 2008
    #8
  11. Oct 27, 2008 #9
    GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

    6,257
    4,365
    Oct 23, 2005
    Vegas/Jersey
    0
    They offered me to go to dispatching back in 98 but it was a salary postion and I would have lost at least 20K in overtime. The salary was right around 50K. That was with a major oil company.
     
    GasHauler, Oct 27, 2008
    GasHauler, Oct 27, 2008
    #9
    furkster Thanks this.
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