When running a trucking company, the best way to increase earnings is to run your company like a well-oiled machine. That means every aspect of the process must function at peak performance levels – whether you’re talking about your trucks or your employees. (snappywap.com)
Likewise, the performance of no single type of employee should be overlooked. While it’s true that a large part of your success relies on your ability to hire excellent drivers who can meet the rigorous demands of today’s shipping industry, you also need to be sure that your dispatcher is performing well.
Why is a Dispatcher Important?
Your dispatcher is the heart of your logistics command center, so you’ll want to ensure you have the ability to spot a skilled one. If they are not able to manage the delivery route and ensure they go smoothly, everything at your company could go off track and end up costing you more than you want to waste on a simple human error.
The best way to avoid this type of error is to prevent it by hiring an expert dispatcher. It may be critical that you find commercial trucks for sale at a great price when you have money to spend, but paying for a skilled dispatcher to maintain documentation, schedules, and routes may prove to be a more valuable asset in the log run. Here are a few ways that you can know you’ve found a perfect match instead of a dud:
Technical Aptitude
Today, a dispatcher’s job isn’t only about logistics but understanding the intricacies of digital systems as well. All of the experience in the world isn’t going to help someone that isn’t able to navigate new technology with ease.
Consider Someone from Your Team
Suppose you are already employing someone who understands the logistics of your company. In that case, it might be easier to promote that person to the logistics position rather than hiring someone new that will require more extensive training.
Offer Appropriate Compensation Package
If you are generous to your dispatcher, you’re going to run into the same problem that so many trucking companies experience with drivers; you’ll lose them. Be sure to offer your dispatcher a generous compensation package to ensure they will stay.
Be Transparent and Informative in Your Job Posting
The clearer you can be about everything you want the dispatcher to cover in their job, the better. After all, you don’t want to hire someone to fulfill a role only to find out it is not what they expected. If possible, allow for some crossover between your prior dispatcher and the new person you hire. That way, your new dispatcher can job-shadow the last person and learn the role more easily.
Managing every detail that goes into running a trucking company is no easy feat. When your company begins to grow and must keep up with increased demand, your most valuable asset might just be a skilled dispatcher. Consider these tips when you’re ready to add a dispatcher to your team to ensure you end up with someone who will help your company to continue to thrive.
