Communicating with dispatch — when, what, and how
Lesson 2 of 5 in Dispatch, Shipper-Receiver Communication & Last-Mile · 22 minutes
Dispatchers love drivers who give them the right information at the right time. Too many updates wastes their time; too few leaves them in the dark. This lesson is the practical playbook.
What you'll learn
- Send the right status updates at the right times
- Communicate problems clearly and quickly
- Choose between phone, text, and ELD app for the situation
- Build the dispatcher's trust over time
From the lesson
Your dispatcher manages 8-15 drivers at once. They need real-time info about who's where, what's happening, and what's coming. The drivers who are easiest to dispatch get the best loads, the most consistent miles, and the fewest hassles. The drivers who go silent for hours, ignore texts, and surprise dispatch with last-minute issues get worse routes and more grief. This lesson is the playbook for being easy to dispatch.
1. The standard status updates
Most carriers expect five status updates per shift:
• Start of shift / departure. When you log in and head out: 'En route to shipper.'
• Arrival at shipper. When you arrive: 'At shipper, in dock.'
• Loaded and rolling. When you leave with the load:…