Occupation · SOC 43-5032
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
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.
Median wage
$48,880
$34,600–$76,130
Projected growth
-0.9%
Declining
Annual openings
-210
per year
Employed (US)
211,000
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
1 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningMonitoringCoordinationTime ManagementReading ComprehensionWritingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationPersuasionLearning StrategiesInstructingNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisProgrammingOperation and ControlScienceRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeEnglish LanguageTransportationPersonnel and Human ResourcesComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingPsychologyMathematicsLaw and GovernmentGeographyCommunications and MediaTelecommunicationsSociology and AnthropologyEconomics and AccountingProduction and ProcessingSales and MarketingForeign LanguageMechanicalEngineering and TechnologyDesignPhysicsPhilosophy and TheologyChemistryBuilding and ConstructionTherapy and CounselingHistory and ArcheologyBiologyMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Air-Trak CloudberryBornemann Associates Flight PlanCommand Alkon COMMANDconcreteComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer aided dispatch softwareComputer aided dispatching auto routing softwareDatabase softwareDigital Gateway e-automateDr. DispatchESRI ArcIMSEmail softwareGeomechanical design analysis GDA softwareGlobal positioning system GPS softwareKronos Workforce TimekeeperLocomotive distribution softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordRail Traffic Track Warrant Control SystemResource management softwareRouting softwareSAP softwareSabre travel agent softwareScheduling softwareSituation resource tracking softwareTMW PowerSuiteTangier Sky Scheduler ViewTransportation management softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsWorking with ComputersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleDocumenting/Recording InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkTraining and Teaching OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesThinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsAssisting and Caring for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersSelling or Influencing OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational UnitsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Dispatch requests — receive and log under direct supervisor guidance using telephone or two-way radio in a transportation or service dispatch center.Work orders — prepare and distribute following established templates with close oversight in a fleet or field-service environment.Customer inquiries — respond to routine questions using scripted protocols under direct supervision in a call-center-style dispatch office.Daily run schedules — assist in compiling by entering pre-assigned route data into dispatch software under trainer direction.Radio communications — relay basic messages between field crews and supervisors following standard call procedures on a company radio system.Dispatch records — enter customer requests, service times, and unit identifiers into a database with guidance from experienced dispatchers.Personnel locations — monitor field unit check-ins on a tracking board or basic mobile location software under supervisor observation.Service equipment needs — identify straightforward repair or resupply requirements and escalate to a senior dispatcher for resolution.Electronic mail software — draft routine status notifications to supervisors using approved message formats in an office dispatch setting.Geographic reference materials — read basic maps or map creation software to confirm service area assignments with supervisor confirmation.
developing
Worker and vehicle deployment — schedule and dispatch crews or service vehicles to customer locations with minimal oversight using CRM or CAD dispatch software.Daily work schedules — prepare complete run sheets independently, balancing route efficiency and staffing availability in a regional dispatch center.Customer service calls — confer directly with customers to clarify service requests, resolve standard complaints, and confirm delivery timelines without escalation.Two-way radio relay — transmit work orders, route changes, and operational updates to field inspectors and supervisors across multiple channels simultaneously.Work order processing — receive, review, and close out service work orders accurately within required turnaround times in a moderate-volume dispatch environment.Dispatch records management — maintain organized files of charges, inventory, and service history in a database user interface to support billing and audits.Minor repair coordination — arrange routine equipment repairs with maintenance vendors to restore service schedules with limited supervisor involvement.Unit utilization monitoring — track personnel and vehicle locations via mobile location-based services software to identify and resolve scheduling gaps proactively.Time management under load — prioritize competing service calls and field communications during peak periods in a fast-paced transportation dispatch office.Helpdesk software usage — log, update, and close customer service tickets accurately within a helpdesk or call-center platform used by the dispatch team.
proficient
Complex dispatch coordination — independently schedule and route multiple crews, vehicles, and equipment across overlapping service zones using advanced CAD dispatch software.Non-routine problem resolution — diagnose and resolve scheduling conflicts, equipment failures, or staffing shortages autonomously in a high-volume dispatch environment.Customer escalation handling — confer with dissatisfied customers and supervising personnel to negotiate service recovery solutions without requiring management intervention.Multi-channel communications — manage simultaneous radio, telephone, and electronic communications with field crews and external partners across a broad service territory.Schedule optimization — design efficient daily and weekly run schedules that reduce idle time and fuel costs for a fleet operating across diverse service areas.Records accuracy and compliance — ensure dispatch logs, expense records, and inventory files meet regulatory and organizational audit standards in a transportation-sector office.Vendor and repair management — coordinate urgent equipment repairs with multiple contractors to minimize service disruption and maintain on-time performance metrics.Geographic information systems — use GIS and map creation software to analyze service coverage gaps and recommend route adjustments to operations management.Expert system utilization — apply decision-support or expert system software to evaluate resource allocation scenarios and select optimal dispatch strategies independently.Cross-functional coordination — liaise between field supervisors, warehouse teams, and customer accounts to align service delivery with contractual obligations in a logistics environment.
advanced
Dispatch operations strategy — set organizational priorities, staffing models, and technology standards for a dispatch center serving a large or multi-site transportation enterprise.Workforce development — mentor, train, and evaluate dispatchers at all levels, building team competency in communications protocols, software tools, and customer service standards.Performance metrics leadership — design and implement KPI dashboards for on-time dispatch rates, equipment utilization, and customer satisfaction across an entire dispatch operation.Policy and procedure authorship — develop and enforce dispatch protocols, escalation procedures, and records-management policies aligned with industry regulations and company strategy.Technology adoption — evaluate, pilot, and lead implementation of new CRM, CAD, GIS, or mobile tracking systems to modernize dispatch operations across the organization.Stakeholder relationship management — represent the dispatch function in executive-level discussions with clients, regulators, and logistics partners to resolve systemic service issues.Capacity planning — analyze demand trends, equipment inventories, and staffing data to forecast resource requirements and present investment recommendations to senior leadership.Continuous improvement leadership — lead root-cause analysis of recurring dispatch failures and direct cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions organization-wide.Emergency and contingency planning — design and lead drills for large-scale service disruptions, ensuring dispatch teams can maintain operations during crises in the transportation sector.Interdepartmental coordination — align dispatch operations with sales, maintenance, human resources, and finance functions to support enterprise-wide service delivery and cost objectives.
Also known as
76 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aircraft DispatcherAirplane Dispatch ClerkAuto Service Dispatcher (Automotive Service Dispatcher)Automobile Rental DispatcherBus and Trolley DispatcherBus DispatcherBus StarterCab StarterCab Station AttendantCar DispatcherCar DistributorCar StarterCar SupplierCar TracerCharter CoordinatorCity DispatcherCrew DispatcherDelivery DispatcherDinkey DispatcherDispatch ClerkDispatch CoordinatorDispatcher (Dispatch)Drop Board ManDrop Board WorkerEngine DispatcherFreight DispatcherGarbage Truck DispatcherGas DispatcherGas Load DispatcherIntermodal DispatcherLogistics DispatcherMaintenance DispatcherMaintenance SchedulerMaintenance Services DispatcherMine Car DispatcherMine DispatcherMotor Vehicle DispatcherNight DispatcherOil DispatcherOil Well Services Dispatcher