5 Steps to Help You Decide If Being a Dispatcher Is Right for You

Have you ever wanted to work in the trucking industry, but don't like the idea of being away from home for long periods of time? If so, perhaps you should consider becoming a dispatcher. This interesting position is the link between the truckers and the shipping team. Dispatchers know where every truck is at all times, and they help to plan and schedule trucking jobs to ensure that the shipment gets to its destination on time. But how can you know if this job is right for you? Here are five steps to help simplify the decision process.

Step 1: Find out all you can about dispatchers.

It's one thing to think you know what a job is all about, but it's another to do your homework and actually get all the details. So before you start any kind of dispatch training, take the time to research everything you can about the position on the internet. Find out about the responsibilities of a dispatcher, salaries for different regions, industries that employ dispatchers, etc.

Step 2: Think about your personal strengths and weaknesses.

Now that you know more about the job, think about who you are, and how your personality fits into the role of a dispatcher. Do you see yourself having that kind of job? Do you think you have the ability to multitask, and be responsible for several trucks at the same time? Do you see yourself enjoying taking dispatcher courses? If so, then continue on to step 3.

Step 3: Shadow a dispatcher for a day.

Learn about being a dispatcher from someone who walks the talk. This will help you decide if the job is right for you, and will also give you hands-on knowledge which will serve you well if you decide to take dispatch training courses later. Try and find some trucking companies in your area, and offer them free help for a day, on the condition that they allow you to spend the time shadowing a dispatcher. Watching a dispatcher work will give you a great idea of the roles and responsibilities of the job.

Step 4: Take advantage of open houses.

Many trucking schools will have open houses, where prospective students can see the campus, and find out more about dispatcher training courses. Go to as many of these open houses as you can, and speak with teachers. As them about what their courses cover, and about the job prospects for graduates.

Step 5: Enrol in dispatcher courses.

If you've gotten to this last step, then chances are being a dispatcher is right for you. The thing to do now is to actually enrol in some dispatcher courses. Studying to become a dispatcher will help fill in any blanks you have regarding what the roles and responsibilities of the position are, and whether they make sense for you. By the time you've completed the studies, you'll know if being a dispatcher is the career that you've been looking for.

Contact The Canadian Automotive & Trucking Institute for more information on their dispatch training courses.

Percey Evans is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools. http://www.cati.ca/transport-operations-specialist.php

By Percey Evans