Truck dispatchers are the backbone of the trucking industry. As you likely know, they coordinate your routes and are responsible for the goods you haul.

However, dispatchers are humans too, and they can sometimes make errors. Luckily, many dispatching errors can be easily avoided or eliminated altogether.

If you’d like to know three ways of getting rid of dispatching errors, then continue reading below.

Why Do Dispatchers Make Errors?

Everyone makes mistakes, and truck dispatchers are no different. Errors happen because truck dispatchers don’t have an easy job.

They need to find goods to haul, consider your route, and know what kind of driver you are. On top of that, they need to communicate with you on the road while handling tons of phone calls and paperwork.

As you can see, they need to handle a lot of tasks simultaneously. Unfortunately, sometimes a route wasn’t optimized, or you get stuck at a dock.

3 Tips for Eliminating Dispatching Errors

3. Build a Solid Relationship With Your Dispatcher

One of the best ways to stop dispatch errors from happening is to have a good relationship with your dispatcher. Of course, you don’t need to be best friends, but being friendly and professional with your dispatcher will make them less stressed.

When someone is less stressed, it means that they’re likely to make fewer mistakes. On top of that, if a dispatcher knows you, it’s easier for them to understand what you can handle.

That makes it much less likely that you’ll need to rush for a job or get stuck somewhere.

It helps if you meet them in person so that they’re not just a voice in your head. By meeting them, you know that someone is looking out for you who isn’t a robot, and they understand that you’re someone out on the road.

2. Keep Calm and Truck On

If a dispatching error happens, it’s tempting to get angry or frustrated. However, the last thing you want to do is take out your anger on the dispatcher.

As we mentioned before, dispatchers are under a lot of stress, just like you. If you end up being angry with them, it makes them more prone to cause errors.

The best thing to do is to keep calm and communicate in a positive manner.

1. Let Time Pass

If you’re new to a company, then a dispatcher sort of shows you the ropes. It’s much more common for dispatcher errors to happen when you first start somewhere new.

After all, the dispatcher probably doesn’t know how you drive and needs time to learn who you are and what you can do. As time goes on, you and your dispatcher will likely get on the same page.

Until then, have some patience and let some time pass before making any judgments.

Sometimes It’s Bad Luck

Unfortunately, bad dispatchers do exist in the trucking industry. These dispatchers constantly send you on impossible missions or aren’t clear and communicative with you.

If that’s the case, the best thing to do is to get a new dispatcher or sit down and have an honest conversation with them.

However, most of the time, dispatcher errors can be cleared up with the tips we mentioned. Remember, we’re all people in this industry, and working together is what keeps this entire industry running.