Dispatcher Assistant

Role Summary

As a Dispatcher Assistant, you support route planning, driver coordination, and communication between field and office teams. You monitor schedules, track delivery progress, and respond to real-time changes or emergencies. Your work keeps drivers informed and operations flowing.

Required Education, Certifications, and Experience

Education:

 High school diploma or equivalent.

Certifications:

  • Certified Dispatcher Assistant Training
  • DOT Compliance Basics
  • Basic Logistics and Scheduling Training

Experience:

 Experience in transportation or dispatch preferred.

Core Skills

  • Multitasking
  • Driver communication
  • System navigation
  • Attention to detail
  • Calm under pressure

A Hypothetical Day in the Life of a Dispatcher Assistant

8:00 AM-You log into the TMS and review driver assignments for the day. You double-check routes and confirm that all manifests are distributed correctly. One driver has called in sick, so you immediately coordinate with dispatch to reassign the load and avoid service delays. You field a flurry of calls—drivers asking about pickup instructions, warehouse staff asking for updates, and customers looking for ETAs. You juggle all three at once, updating systems and calming tempers where needed. Your pace is fast, and your attention can’t waver.

9:30 AM- You monitor GPS locations on your fleet dashboard. A driver appears to be idling too long at a rest area. You check in to confirm if there’s a delay or issue. It’s a mechanical problem. You notify maintenance and begin adjusting downstream delivery windows.

11:00 AM- You enter load confirmations into the system and scan paperwork for accuracy. A few BOLs don’t match the load codes—you flag them for dispatch review and hold off processing until corrected. Details like this keep compliance and billing clean.

12:30 PM- Lunch is short—you spend part of it updating customers about delayed shipments and resetting appointment windows. You make sure to log every call and email. If anything is questioned later, your notes will explain what happened and why.

2:00 PM- You assist with building tomorrow’s preliminary route schedule. You review driver availability, vehicle assignments, and customer priorities. You make notes on potential conflicts and prep them for the lead dispatcher to review before finalizing.

3:30 PM- A driver’s ELD unit goes offline. You walk them through a reset while simultaneously logging the downtime for compliance. Moments like these define the job—helping someone through a stressful issue without letting the rest of the operation slip.

5:00 PM- You update the delivery status board, close out completed routes, and notify carriers of any next-day priorities. Every communication is logged. Your job is half coordination and half documentation. If anything gets missed, it’s traceable. Before you leave, you double-check the next shift’s handoff notes and flag any high-priority issues. You stay five minutes late to confirm a replacement truck assignment went through. You head home tired but know you kept the day from going off the rails.