The world of logistics is not rather intricate but also demanding. Even small mistakes may lead to catastrophic consequences or even financial or reputational losses. The success of the whole process depends on the skills and knowledge of all the workers and professionals engaged in it. One of the most important but underestimated specialists is a vehicle dispatcher.
It’s the task of a logistics dispatcher to schedule drivers and other filed-related specialists and send them on predefined routes. The very dispatchers receive and prepare work orders. It means if an expert makes some mistakes, the whole transportation process may be failed.
An ideal logistics dispatcher should possess a whole list of skills and traits. He or she should be able to conduct monitoring activities, communicate with a wide range of people, and know why wide time management is important. Moreover, the experts have to understand the main logistics terms and notions. For instance, it’s of prime importance to know the difference between LTL and less than truckload shipping. It’s necessary to anticipate the main peculiarities, pluses, and minuses of different modes of transportation.
Dispatchers are also responsible for keeping records of all transportation operations. If you cooperate with a good broker, you are unlikely to face some difficulties with getting the needed papers and forms. Yet, in case of disputable situations, dispatchers are the first source of reliable and veracious information.
How to Cooperate with Dispatcher
As a rule, shippers do not deal with dispatchers. It’s the task of carriers, brokers, and forwarders. They are to clarify all the details and arrange the transportation process. At the same time, you should realize that the speed of transportation depends on how fast the specialist processes information. Thus, if you are interested in really fast freight services, you are to clarify all the aspects of the order fulfillment procedure.
There is one more thing you should know about transportation dispatchers. If something goes wrong, he or she is the first person who should be informed. For instance, if the truck is broken, the very dispatcher is responsible for the extra urgent searches for alternatives. If the worker is not experienced or is not interested in positive income, both shippers and carriers will experience financial losses and delays.
The number of functions the dispatcher is responsible for may differ from company to company. When selecting the most optimal solution, you have to consider all the above-mentioned factors. Moreover, it is OK to get acquainted with all the specialists who are responsible for the fulfillment of your order. Nowadays it’s quite easy thanks to the use of innovative technologies.
So, it isn’t a good idea to underestimate the importance of the role of the dispatcher. He or she is an important element in logistics. If you desire to avoid mess and haste, it’s better to cooperate with top-rated companies that appreciate the desire of workers to strive for excellence and hire only highly motivated and experienced staff. It may become a real challenge for you to find such a logistics partner but it is possible.
