Part of knowing how to run a successful trucking company is mastering the art of dispatching.  I use the word “art” deliberately, because that’s exactly what being a successful dispatcher comes down to.  It means being able to exercise the following responsibilities day after day:

• Dealing with people who have freight they want picked up yesterday, and who are under so much stress that they often act in less-than-pleasant ways.
• Talking to drivers who are also under stress, and matching them with loads they may or may not be excited about hauling.
• Staying on top of where each truck is located at all times.
• Being able to change a truck’s route as needed, often at the very last minute, to meet rapidly changing customer demands.
• Keeping your wits and the company together when bad weather, mechanical problems, or AWOL drivers make everything go crazy all at once.
• Maintaining extremely detailed records of incoming/outgoing calls, truck routes, ETAs of pickups and deliveries, types of freight, etc., during what’s usually a long and very hectic shift.
• Doing all of this while staying in compliance with countless federal and state regulations regarding trucker rest periods and every other facet of the business.

Being able to do a job like that well requires a specific set of skills and abilities.  These include:

• Patience with difficult people
• Detailed knowledge of multiple routes
• The ability to adapt quickly to changing situations
• Strong diplomatic and record-keeping skills
• Enjoyment of constant challenges
• A mind for details

One thing that can also help in learning how to run a successful trucking company is the right software.  That’s why you need to take TruckingOffice for a free, no-risk test drive.  Leave your credit card in your pocket; we won’t ask for any billing information upfront.  Once you’ve used our product you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.