Dispatcher

NOC (National Occupational Classification)

  • NOC 1525 Dispatchers and Radio Operators
  • NOC 1215 Supervisors, Scheduling Occupations

Who am I?

Dispatchers operate radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch vehicles and to co-ordinate the activities of drivers, technicians and other employees. They are employed by wholesalers as well as HVACR contractors to relay information.

Other Titles

  • Communications Specialist Dispatcher
  • Dispatcher, Trucks
  • Maintenance Services Dispatcher
  • Radio Dispatcher
  • Service Dispatcher
  • Supervisor, Dispatchers

Essential Skills

Essential Skills are not the technical skills required by particular occupations but rather the skills applied in all occupations. These skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and apply to careers in HVACR. See Employment and Social Development Canada.

The most important Essential Skills for Dispatchers are:

  • Oral Communications – Includes talking to customers over the telephone and staying in touch with employees and sending them to various location via radio
  • Working with Others – Includes, ability to deal with irate customers, re-scheduling and reassigning of scheduled work as dictated by situation presented
  • Thinking Skills – Ability to take into account various factors (urgency of situation, location of call, employees work load) decide which drivers to send out and which routes and vehicles to use.

What do I do?

As a Dispatcher, your may do some of the following:

  • Receive requests for assistance or service and contact from customers and employees
  • Process and transmit information and instructions to co-ordinate the activities of vehicle operators, service crews and equipment using a variety of computer-aided communications and dispatching equipment
  • Dispatch employees according to written schedules and work orders, or as required by situations
  • Monitor employees workloads and locations
  • Maintain operator work records using computerized or manual methods and ensure time sheets and payroll summaries are completed accurately
  • Maintain computer and manual records of mileage, fuel use, repairs and other expenses, and generate reports.

Education/Training

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Most dispatchers usually undergo some informal on-the-job training while some are required to complete formal on-the-job training.