Career Overview
Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.
Also Known As
- City Dispatcher
- Dispatcher (Dispatch)
- Taxi Dispatcher
- Train Dispatcher
Alternate Job Titles
- Aircraft Dispatcher
- Airplane Dispatch Clerk
- Auto Service Dispatcher (Automotive Service Dispatcher)
- Automobile Rental Dispatcher
- Bus and Trolley Dispatcher
- Bus Dispatcher
- Bus Starter
- Cab Starter
- Cab Station Attendant
- Car Dispatcher
- Car Distributor
- Car Starter
- Car Supplier
- Car Tracer
- Charter Coordinator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
- Prepare daily work and run schedules.
- Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
- Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
- Receive or prepare work orders.
- Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
- Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Time Management
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Selective Attention
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Call management systems CMS
- Centralized traffic control units
- Desktop computers
- Dispatch servers
- Job dispatch and vehicle tracking systems
- Mobile data terminal MDT equipment
- Mobile radios
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal banking chamber PBC telephones
- Personal computers
- Signal controls
- Switch controls
- Teletypewriters TTY
- Touch screen monitors
- Tower switching machines
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $34,600 |
| Median | $48,880 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $76,130 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 211,000
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: Varies
First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
Public Safety Telecommunicators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $50,730
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $74,080
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $57,770
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.