THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES

Freight dispatchers support a variety of business functions for a trucking company. Most job descriptions are a mix of support, operations, and customer service tasks. Depending on the company, dispatchers also work on back-end operations like billing and compliance.

Since freight dispatchers are in constant contact with your customers and drivers, strong communication skills are key. Dispatchers spend a lot of time coordinating with truck drivers to minimize late deliveries. They also keep clients informed of drivers’ locations and arrival times. Customer service skills are vital to the job. Successful dispatchers can help strengthen customer relationships, encourage safe driving behaviors, and ensure on-time deliveries.

Freight dispatchers also analyze huge amounts of fleet data daily. To optimize delivery routes and manage incoming customer requests, dispatchers must consider endless variables. This includes everything from current weather conditions to the number of completed stops. Much of their day is consumed by liaising between your drivers, sales agencies, and end customers

Both freight dispatchers and freight brokers serve as go-betweens for shippers and fleets when negotiating for new freight. However, they are different in a few key ways. Here are the differences between freight dispatchers and freight brokers:

• Freight dispatchers: Freight dispatchers are usually employees of an individual fleet. They are responsible for ensuring that drivers have loads to deliver and that they are on-time. Freight dispatchers optimize routes and communicate status updates to your customers.
• Freight brokers: Freight brokers are usually a third-party service licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). They arrange (or broker) the transportation of goods between shippers and carriers, helping to identify carriers who can take on loads. Freight brokers negotiate with carriers on behalf of shippers. Freight brokers are neither shippers nor motor carriers; they operate as a middle-man between those two parties.

Dispatchers represent your fleet’s best interests when finding loads. By contrast, freight brokers typically want to negotiate the lowest rates for carriers. Brokers receive payment based on the difference between the rates for shippers and carriers. As a result, they are more motivated to offer carriers a lower rate. Fleet managers looking to maximize their profits need strong negotiation skills when working with freight brokers.