Understanding the Advantages of a Career with a Private Carrier after Dispatch School
The 21st century has paved many different roads in the world of transportation. Many carriers must balance the cost of operating a fleet, meeting demand for expedited delivery, and integrating new technological innovations to stay competitive, and this has led to a change in carrier management, including the introduction of private carriers.
A private carrier means that a company owns the vehicles it uses to transport its goods. Because its primary business is the delivery of its own product, private carriers operate differently than other carriers since they are not for-hire and don’t transport the goods of other companies.
The recent rise in popularity of private carriers gives dispatch graduates an exciting new career opportunity. If you’re interested in joining the transportation industry, read on to find out what you should know about a career with a private carrier.
Dispatchers Should Know That Private Fleets Have Lower Driver Turnover
Chances are, if you’re interested in a career in transportation, you’ve heard of its ongoing struggle with driver retention. A high driver turnover rate doesn’t only affect the drivers and their job satisfaction—it also affects the dispatchers, operations managers, and transportation logistics teams who have to scramble to find (and keep) qualified drivers to make sure their deliveries are on time.
Despite older drivers retiring and younger drivers becoming increasingly burnt out by back-to-back hauls, private fleets have managed to keep a relatively low annual turnover rate compared to for-hire carriers.
Why? Simply put—it often pays better. Private fleet drivers also have less demanding schedules, and can make room for a more comfortable quality of life at home and at work—something that also helps the dispatchers who support them on their routes and the operations managers who don’t have to scramble for trucks or drivers on short notice.
Private Fleets Emphasize Safety on the Road for Dispatch School Grads
The nature of transportation means that safety is a big concern in both dispatch training and the transportation industry. Private carriers are taking proactive steps towards ensuring better road safety, primarily because they are innovating with more advanced technologies that help their workers on and off the road.
While private carriers are more expensive to operate, that also means the company in charge has money to spend on many different aspects such as extra training, fleet maintenance, and upgraded equipment, all of which affect road safety. Dispatchers and driver managers can rest easier knowing that a well-maintained private fleet lowers their chances of a driver’s truck suddenly breaking down, which helps them avoid the chaos of arranging repairs and re-organizing their schedules to make sure their deliveries are still on track.
Transportation operations also depend on constant updates to make sure their drivers and deliveries arrive safely and on time. In-cab technologies such as video safety systems are becoming more prevalent in today’s private fleets, and this increased visibility helps dispatchers stay informed of the real-time conditions their drivers are working with on the road, and alerts them to any potential problems. A private fleet’s use of technology saves time, money, and effort, but most importantly ensures safe transportation logistics for all involved.
Are you ready to start a rewarding new career in the transportation industry?
Contact Automotive Training Centres to find out how dispatch school can help!