Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Dispatcher Training Deals with the Demands of the Industry

Dispatchers have got to be able to multi-task. They are responsible for the running of a very hectic environment, and they are individuals that are allotted with a notable amount of responsibility. And in the middle of all this, they've got to keep it together regardless of their environment. If not, the whole process could fall apart. It's a career that involves a lot more than simply dispatching. It's a lot like directing a train yard without a direct view from overhead.

Because dispatching requires only a high school diploma, most people assume that they are immediately qualified to work as a dispatcher. But with such a demand in the transport and public safety industries, it is becoming more and more important for potential applicants to hold a certificate from a dispatcher school. If a potential employee has attended the proper dispatcher courses, it makes them much more appealing to potential employers. Especially when the dispatcher is not only responsible for organizing deliveries, pickups, arrivals and departures, but also for keeping a physical record of all interactions. If any of these responsibilities are left unfilled, it can lead to the failure of a business, or the loss of clients. In the case of public safety dispatchers, a mistake can even lead to the loss of a life. While dispatching may not need a university degree, it certainly calls for a very capable individual.

Dispatch workers are responsible for much more than just making calls. They must both schedule and dispatch fellow employees, ensure that vehicles are properly attended to, keep a record of all calls and transport enters and departs from their assigned territory.

This is what makes the aforementioned certification so necessary. While it is imperative for workers to excel in both communication and organizational skills, they must also have the sufficient experience to ensure that their job gets done, regardless of pressure or unplanned mishaps. To put it bluntly, the dispatcher has just got to make sure that everything gets to where it needs to be.

Dispatcher training can lead to any of the following careers:

- Operations Manager

- Local Dispatcher

- Highway Dispatcher

- Driver Manager/Trainer/Recruiter

- Load Planner

- Safety & Compliance Officer

- Representative

- Log Book Auditor

- Fleet Maintenance

- Loss Prevention Administrator

- Warehouse Supervisor

- Customer Service Rep

- Sales

These fields are not limited to the transport industry. In fact, 36% of employees work in the public safety fields for either the police department, fire department or for emergency call centers. While some public safety dispatchers work from a centralized call center, some work directly from the police station.


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