What do you expect from your dispatcher?

The fact that you would take the time to sign up for this forum and ask this question tells me your probably a great dispatcher. Attitude is everything.

 

to be treated as you want to be treated. that should covor it all. I used to work for a co. that had a program that let the dispatchers out with a truck for a week or so. that worked really well as it reminded everone what the other persons job was like. it was a great learning tool for both .

 

I would do anything for a good dispatcher. Look me up. Start finding me a load before I am unloaded makes a big difference to me. Don't leave me in the dark. Don't be afraid to stay on the phone ten more seconds so I can get my question out. I cant stand my dispatcher.

 

Respect is earned not given and it's a two way street. Your Dispatcher has as much a right to the respect that you are demanding! What makes you above him or her?


The biggest issue I always with most of my DM's was honesty. Don't lie to a customer about a Driver ever! The last thing a Driver needs/wants is to walk into a firestorm because He just got the dispatch 30 minutes ago on a load that was to be picked up 4 hours earlier. There will always be the "Crusty" Driver that does his Job great, but will find every little thing to ##### about. Treat your guys good and they will treat you good back as they would expect if they treated you good. The fact that you came on here to ask says alot about you.

I believe your guys are in good hands

 

[h=1]What do you expect from your dispatcher? DON'T LIE! after unloading & sitting for 4-5 hours, don't tell me you do not have a load for me, while you load another driver who just got into the area. when I catch you in a lie, don't make an excuse. if it is first in first out, then stick to it. if it is a buddy sys then say so from the start. if it is forced dispatched, say so. if it is sometimes forced dispatch, say so. if it is not forced dispatch, then if & when I refuse a load, do not punish me by not loading me, or giving me shiiit loads. if your upfront at the start & I don't like it later, too bad for me.[/h]

I am lucky I have a good dedicated run now. when I first started over 13 years ago I was with compass/falcon. they were everything I mentioned above. I was with a co, Balkan express, where my dispatcher had a buddy sys, and I had no problem with it. He told me upfront, that just 1 driver he takes care of. this 1 driver only runs i-65 north to northern OH. & back to our area & if there are any loads going that way they are saved for him...BECAUSE that 1 driver would do anything, go any where at any time for that dispatcher, so I thought it right for the dispatcher to make that driver his priority. that was fine with me, cause I am not going to go just anywhere at any time. for those who do, you deserve some choice loads over other drivers like me. i.m.o.

 

Its pretty sad, I used to be a real quiet do as my boss tells me kind of person...and back in the day my boss's would reward me for it...
Now, it seems like every #### boss is scared of their job...and they'll screw over the employee to make themselves look good with their bosses..

So let me clarify what im getting at when you carry a title like "manager"....
Your position as a Manager is to guide and help the Company succeed...if there is an employee that is shining brighter than you are...then That person needs to move up into position as a Manager his or her self...
So let me give you an example,
I was a Meat Manager for a Small independent Grocery store before I got into Trucking...Before I took over the Meat dept. it was only maybe 800 dollars a week in sales...and in the meat business...That is out right poor...

By 2 months went around...that market was making nearly over 10,000 dollars in sales a week alone..And I still wasn't happy because I wanted to increase it by more..but I couldn't get the inexperienced Store manager to let go of her precious budget in her area in groceries...so I was stuck at making only 10,000...so when the owner came up and asked me why I couldn't do more..I simply told him...if you want more sales? you need more product...So after fighting and fighting I finally went over all their heads....and decided to order more...when they found out I did that...They threatened to fire me and told me to never do it again...but yet after I did that it went from 10,000 to 25,000 a week..Now, to all you dispatchers who are afraid to stand your ground in running your drivers....there are other jobs out there...So don't be afraid to tell a member of higher to shove it up their rear when you see something is bad..and if you know you can make money and create a bigger Revenue with a driver...use him to your full advantage..and if you have one that cries and boohoos because he or sheis too tired to run all the time..then my suggestion is to make them sit... you work with your gold nuggets and not work with your rocks...that's what my manager who trained me to be a manager to do a long time ago...May he rest his soul..

 

These guys have covered it. For me I can sum it up in one sentence:

Dispatch as if you own the company and your livelihood depends on your company being around for a long time.

If you do this you will:
1. schedule with compliance and safety in mind,
2. balance driver happiness with customer happiness
3. learn which drivers are "A" drivers and which drivers are "B" drivers

 

I've had the same dispatcher for 7 years now we have a great working relationship now, not always the case i made the offer for him to take a ride with me for a week or another driver to get a feel of how it was on the other side of the fence. He agreed and came out with the permission of operations manager. He had never been on a ride along. He learned how operations actions influenced the drivers day. With that said shortly after that operations started to rotate drivers thru to sit with load planners and dispatchers for a day when time permitted to educate drivers as to what happens in the office. Since then the relationships have improved. All the dispatchers have been on ride alongs. So i would say if you can go for a week long ride with a driver you know you can trust!. And vica versa. And don't lie it might be a bitter pill to swallow. But integrity is about all you have over a speak and spell aka (qualcomm) or other device

 

Not much, sense most lie threw their teeth, Sorry no disrespect intended

 

A dispatcher is like a exgirlfriend what didn't work for you maybe the best thing in the world for someone else......I wouldn't ever use one that has never driven a truck, I turn down loads all the time based on what the load is or where it picks up at in fact I turned one down today.
load of wire coils going 50 miles paid $350 the place takes hours to load so I'd spend more time loading than it's worth instead I'll just dead head that 50miles.

What I'm getting at is I don't haul any load and I've left loads sitting after showing up to load nobody can think like you or know how you feel that day, I don't mind tarpping but somedays I don't care what a load pays I'm just not doing it, also I take in consideration if it's blowing 30mph out side will that tarp load be loaded outside? Lots of things to think about only you can understand someone in there house that ant walked outside or is 1,000miles away just don't get it.