4 Ways for Recent Graduates of Dispatch Training to Foster Strong Relationships With Their Drivers

In 2014, over 72 per cent of produced goods that were shipped throughout Canada used the road. In other words, they were driven by truckers. The trucking industry has played a vital role in the Canadian economy since the early 20th century and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, recent technological and vehicular advancements have tried to make life more comfortable and less stressful for the truckers that form the backbone of Canada’s economy.

Working with these truckers are their dispatchers, who organize schedules, potential routes, logistics, and a variety of other tasks. Their position—which involves managing multiple trucks at the same time—is a very important one to ensure efficient cargo transport.

For dispatchers, it is vital to have good relationships with the truckers they manage. If you’re interested in a career in dispatch, check out these four ways to create and sustain good relationships with your drivers.

1. Students in Dispatcher Schools Know How to Find and Recommend the Best Routes

Anyone with an interest in dispatching knows that route planning is essential for cutting down travel time, distance, and driver fatigue. When possible, dispatchers should also consider weather forecasts for the regions that their drivers will be going through, to make sure that conditions are safe and easy for driving. This way, their truckers are less stressed; they know they have an effective route to their destination that their dispatcher helped prepare, which makes them feel like they’re a valued and respected part of the team.

2. Dispatcher Training Means Looking Ahead for Connected Loads

Dispatcher schools train their students to map out the logistics of a certain trucker’s trip to ensure efficiency within the fleet. One way to ensure that this happens is to check whether truckers, upon arriving at the destination, have easy access to a connected load coming the other way. If they do, that means that no two trucks are sent the same way when only one will suffice. For drivers, a dispatcher who effectively finds connecting loads is helpful, as it reduces the risk of redundancy in the fleet.

3. The Health of the Trucker Must Always Be Taken Into Account

An effective dispatcher needs to find the right balance between making sure goods arrive on time and that truckers stay healthy and safe. Certain events like traffic, storms, or lines at the border cannot be avoided, but it’s vital to make sure that the trucker as a person—his health, focus, stamina—is in consideration just as much, if not more so, than the cargo. While customer satisfaction is incredibly important to trucking companies and the industry as a whole, it is not the most important thing. A dispatcher who understands this often develops good relationships with drivers.

4. A Good Dispatcher Should Always Be Available and Prepared to Help

Perhaps most important, a good dispatcher is always available and prepared to help, no matter the situation. As students in dispatch courses know, their role is to facilitate the job for truckers, while also working out various logistics and doing cargo confirmation. A proven track record of availability to your drivers goes a long way towards building and maintaining a strong relationship, because they’ll need you at various points in their commute—whether it’s for traffic, questions about the route, or anything else.

Are you interested in receiving dispatcher training?

Visit Automotive Training Centre (ATC) for more information or to speak with an advisor!