News

Truck drivers represent more than 45 percent of our industry’s workers, but there are other occupations in trucking and logistics that deserve consideration too.

According to Trucking HR’s Labour Market Information: Interim Report September 2019, dispatchers made up about two percent of the workforce. Despite such a low number, they play a substantial and important role in the trucking industry.

From Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census we know:

• There are 16,730 dispatchers working in Canada’s trucking and logistics industry
• Regionally, 12% of these dispatchers are in B.C., 15% in Alberta, 7% in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 39% in Ontario, 22% in Quebec and 5% in Atlantic Canada
• Women make up 39% of the dispatcher workforce
• 19% of dispatchers are newcomers to Canada
• 19% are visible minorities
• 4% of dispatchers are Indigenous

People between the ages of 15 and 35 make up 31 percent of the position, while people over the age of 55 account for 17 percent.

BECOME A DISPATCHER

A dispatcher monitors where trucks are located, checks on how the runs are going, deals with customers, finds the next load assignments, and more. The job of a dispatcher is fast-paced and constantly changing.

If you are thinking about becoming a trucking dispatcher, you’ll want to know whether it’s a right fit for you. You don’t need formal education to become a dispatcher, however there are programs and classes that are very helpful to the position. The other approach is quite simple. Hands on experience.

Once you are a in the position, you will quickly learn that it can be occasionally stressful. To overcome this, check your documents and work before moving forward, because one mistake could cause a domino effect of many more mistakes.

Dispatchers are good at multitasking. From finishing a phone call, you’ll likely have multiple emails, then be back on the phone again, then try to manage more emails and phone calls. With that being said, it’s important to plan ahead—know what the weather will be like the next day, whether there’s construction on your route or not, and map out a general plan.

As a dispatcher you will work closely with drivers where you will have to communicate with clearly and regularly.

Go to Jobs Canada to find dispatcher jobs now.