According to the American Trucking Associations, most freight across the US is transported through trucks. They make up 80.4% of the national freight bill meaning you’ll see quite a few trucks driving down motorways.
It’s the job of truck dispatch services to streamline operations for these carriers. Here’s how they do it.
Keep Drivers on the Road
Since freight negotiations can take anything from one call to several, drivers have to wait around for loads. During this time, they aren’t making any money and only losing precious time.
Freight dispatching companies find enough desirable loads for transportation services and owner-operators to keep truck drivers on the road. They’ve got forward-thinking minds, with one eye trained on the roads and another on the load boards.
Provide Proper Documentation
Trucks carry all kinds of freight. They might travel with safe materials or transport hazardous chemicals from one point to another. Truck dispatchers make sure they stay safe and in line with government regulations.
They achieve this by first ascertaining whether the load entails special handling. For instance, fragile goods would require more care while driving as compared to nonfragile items.
Knowing the contents of the freight also helps the dispatcher arrange for the proper documentation and permits for transporting them, so the driver isn’t blindsided by any state regulations.
Solve Unforeseen Issues
Life on the road is hardly predictable. Many things could happen along the journey, leading to no-shows, delays, and disgruntled customers. Possible emergencies include:
• Damaged freight
• Road accidents
• Detention time
• Health issues on the part of drivers.
• Warring clients, brokers, or drivers.
A truck dispatcher is used to dealing with such high-pressure situations. They’re well-versed in the art of negotiations and would mediate any of the above issues while displaying a cool demeanor and quick-thinking skills.
Keep Records Dating Back Years
It’s the duty of dispatchers to keep saving, storing, and managing records related to drivers, brokers, and clients. These records must be accurate and laid out in a manner that’s easy to read and comprehend.
Recordkeeping not only streamlines audits and reviews but also keeps things running in case the same dispatcher isn’t available. By reviewing old records, their stand-ins can take over without much trouble.
Multitask All Day, Everyday
Dispatchers don’t have it easy. They’ve got loads of duties and no shortage of distractions, thanks to unforeseen circumstances. And they have to get it done at the same time without leaving any room for failure.
Enter: lists.
A dispatcher is like a wedding planner. They make and update to-do lists every day so that if an emergency does pop up, they can attend to it and get back to their daily tasks without forgetting anything.
Professional Drivers Service: Key to Foolproof Road Freight
Recruit our freight dispatch service agency to broker, manage, and mediate loads on your behalf. Receive non-stop regional, intermodal, and expedited freight opportunities that tick all your boxes, and call the shots on load and road-time.
Get in touch with our dispatch trucking company to get started.
