Career Details
Career Details

Career Details

Return to the Search

43-5032.00 - Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance


Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered outside the place of business. Duties may include using radio, telephone, or computer to transmit assignments and compiling statistics and reports on work progress.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
199,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
208,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+8,800
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+4.4%
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
  • Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
  • Relay work orders, messages, or information to or from work crews, supervisors, or field inspectors, using telephones or two-way radios.
  • Confer with customers or supervising personnel to address questions, problems, or requests for service or equipment.
  • Prepare daily work and run schedules.
  • Receive or prepare work orders.
  • Monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules.
  • Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
  • Determine types or amounts of equipment, vehicles, materials, or personnel required, according to work orders or specifications.
  • Advise personnel about traffic problems, such as construction areas, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, or other hazards.
Supplemental
  • Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
  • Ensure timely and efficient movement of trains, according to train orders and schedules.
  • Order supplies or equipment and issue them to personnel.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 87%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 80%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Administration and Management
  • 77%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Clerical
  • 75%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 English Language
  • 71%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Transportation
  • 69%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 61%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Education and Training
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Psychology
  • 50%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Call management systems or accessories
  • Call management systems CMS
  • Dispatch servers
 Traffic control
  • Centralized traffic control units
  • Signal controls
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Mobile data terminal MDT equipment
  • Personal computers
 Location and navigation systems and components
  • Job dispatch and vehicle tracking systems
 Personal communication devices
  • Mobile radios
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal banking chamber PBC telephones
  • Two way radios
  • Voice over internet protocol VoIP systems
 Railroad support equipment and systems
  • Switch controls
  • Tower switching machines
 Teletype equipment
  • Teletypewriters TTY
 Computer displays
  • Touch screen monitors
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Information exchange software
  • Air-Trak Cloudberry
  • Dr. Dispatch
  • Email software
  • ESRI ArcIMS
  • Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Resource management software
  • Situation resource tracking software
  • Transportation management software
 Industry specific software
  • Bornemann Associates Flight Plan
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Sabre
 Data management and query software
  • Command Alkon COMMANDconcrete
  • Database software
  • Digital Gateway e-automate
  • Locomotive distribution software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Tangier Sky Scheduler View
 Business function specific software
  • Computer aided dispatch software
  • Computer aided dispatching auto routing software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Rail Traffic Track Warrant Control System
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • SAPHOT
  • TMW PowerSuiteHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Scheduling software
  • Word processing software
 Operating environment software
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
 Educational or reference software
  • Routing software
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Bridgewater College
 Programs
Paul D. Camp Community College
 Programs
Randolph-Macon College
 Programs
Southside Virginia Community College
 Programs
Tidewater Community College
 Programs
Wytheville Community College
 Programs