truck driver with phone

Effective Communication Between Dispatch and Drivers

Effective communication is just as important (or perhaps more-so) in the workplace as it is in personal relationships. Noting that, effective communication between drivers and dispatchers may be one of the most important aspects in ensuring that a move is made successfully and in a timely-fashion.

I can not begin to tell you, while working in the moving industry, how many times I have heard both drivers and the dispatcher complain about each other. Interestingly, with each and every dispute the situation could have been entirely avoided had both parties simply communicated with each other, instead of allowing angry and stressful emotions to get in the way.

The first step of building effective communication between drivers and dispatch is to understand and respect each others duties. Some of the best dispatchers I have encountered are former drivers who have been promoted to the position. They understand the duties and hardships that can be encountered while hauling a move, and therefore are more capable of resolving the issues in a manner that they have first-hand been dealt with in the past. Drivers themselves often tend to forget that dispatch does not work for them, they work for a manager and are under a great deal of stress to ensure that the hauling aspect of a move runs as smoothly and quickly as possible. While on the other hand, dispatch often tends to forget that these drivers are people too, and not just truck numbers on their computer.

The next step, is simply to be honest with each other. Drivers and dispatchers are in the same corner, sharing one common goal: ensuring a smooth move. Instead of rubbing each other the wrong way, and throwing up your hands as if you have no say in the matter, speak calmly and honestly to each other in a manner that gets the situation resolved in a way that everyone involved is satisfied. Be sure to voice any concerns and lay everything down on the table to find the best source of a resolution to whatever problem may be occurring, and be sure to actually listen to what the other person is trying to say.

Always remember to keep that line of communication open, respectful and accepting. You may not agree with what the other person is trying to say, but in building on effective communication and listening skills, you are at least able to speak out for what you believe to be the best way to solve the issue. Remember, two heads are better than one when it comes down to problem-solving.