Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

Also called: Aircraft Dispatcher, Airplane Dispatch Clerk, Alarm Operator, Assistant Chief Train Dispatcher, Auto Service Dispatcher

Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

Varies

estimated salary

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.

  • Monitor personnel or equipment locations and utilization to coordinate service and schedules.
  • Schedule or dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles to appropriate locations, according to customer requests, specifications, or needs, using radios or telephones.
  • Oversee all communications within specifically assigned territories.
  • 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.
  • Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information.
  • Receive or prepare work orders.
  • 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.
  • Arrange for necessary repairs to restore service and schedules.
  • Ensure timely and efficient movement of trains, according to train orders and schedules.
  • Order supplies or equipment and issue them to personnel.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 89% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 84% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Electronic Mail — 93% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 64% responded "Extremely important".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 71% responded "Every day".
  • Deal With External Customers — 62% responded "Extremely important".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Schedule operational activities.
  • Coordinate operational activities.
  • Relay information between personnel.
  • Respond to customer problems or complaints.
  • Prepare employee work schedules.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
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Knowledge

Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Customer and Personal Service
  • 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.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition
  • The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
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