Knowledgeable, reliable dispatching is the backbone of a successful trucking business. Dispatchers act as the go-between for truck drivers, customers, and the trucking company. They manage every behind-the-scene aspect of a delivery run, from pick-up to drop-off. Finally, they help ensure that freight gets where it has to go, on time. Without dispatchers, truckers would have to depend on their own customer list all the time. Trying to arrange a trip back home would be close to impossible without good dispatchers and brokers.

When it comes down to it, the dispatching operations of a trucking business can be chaotic and confusing. Often truckers and dispatchers end up at odds. However, their goal is the same: get freight to the right place at the right time.

Dispatchers may have limited authority in terms of assigning loads or granting special privileges. However, they can have a significant impact on the success and happiness a trucker will experience out on the road.

1. Dispatching is not an easy job

When it comes to dispatching, there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of details to keep track of. which can be stressful for everyone involved. Customers are impatient because they need the shipment delivered to a certain place by a certain time. Drivers are under pressure to get it there in a timely manner, and dispatchers are at the center of it all. At times, dispatchers are managing between 30 and 50 drivers and trying to keep everyone happy and on track. That is the main reason many trucking companies use dispatch software specifically designed for trucking businesses. This way, they can track everything related to dispatch in one convenient place. This also helps reduce the margin of error.

2. Communication is key in dispatching

The most important person in a trucker’s work life is the trucking dispatcher. Ninety-five percent of all communication that occurs between truckers and their trucking company goes through dispatch. When that communication breaks down, it can result in a headache for everyone, from the driver to the dispatcher to the boss.   

3. Developing a good relationship is crucial

As a trucker, your trucking dispatcher can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Either way, no one will have more of an influence on your success as a driver than your dispatcher. As a trucker, you can make things much better for yourself by developing a good working relationship with dispatch. That means having a clear understanding of the dispatch’s responsibility to you as a driver and, equally as important, your responsibility to dispatch. For instance, as a trucker, it is your duty to keep dispatch up to date on your schedule and any potential problems that could prevent you from sticking to that schedule. Things such as suddenly feeling ill, noticing a bad storm on the horizon, or experiencing a problem with your truck should all immediately be reported to dispatch.

In turn, dispatch is expected to make sure that you have all the information you need to handle the loads you are assigned to and notify you of any changes that could affect your current load assignment. Whenever a potential situation arises, dispatch is responsible for gathering as much information as possible and notifying the appropriate people in order to help you resolve the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Trucking companies rely on dispatch to monitor their fleets and drivers closely. Your dispatcher can make your life a whole lot easier (or harder) by speaking on your behalf to the people who make the important decisions. Think of your dispatcher as your voice within the company and you’ll understand why developing a solid relationship with dispatch is so important.

How TruckingOffice’s TMS Improves Dispatching Operations

TruckingOffice’s software for trucking companies includes dispatch features that help take the guesswork out of keeping accurate records. 

With this program, your dispatcher can quickly enter the driver’s pay amount manually or allow the system to calculate the payment automatically. They can list driver teams, and if you advance funds to the driver for fuel or other expenses, this unique feature will deduct the amount from their base pay. 

TruckingOffice software will improve your dispatching operations by making it easy to add, view or edit customer data as needed. It allows users to locate a customer in their database by merely entering just the first three letters of their name. It helps the dispatcher learn more about an upcoming shipment by providing information at a glance. These details include the pickup date and time, handling instructions, and other useful data. 

This software will also allow users to specify a fee type when creating invoices. You can add either a flat fee, per mile, or per ton fee. It also lets you add additional fees, such as for stop-off or accessories if needed. 

For more information on streamlining and improving your dispatching services, contact Trucking Office today. TruckingOffice trucking software can make life easier around the office for your company’s dispatchers. From helping you keep payments organized and distributed on time to keeping track of customer details and shipment information.