Dispatcher

First Canada ULC; St. Thomas; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career advancement opportunities

Positive work environment

Job summary

First Student is seeking a Dispatcher to ensure on-time bus performance and effective driver coaching. The role involves dispatching routes, managing communications, and resolving scheduling issues to keep operations smooth and safe.

Ideal candidates bring 3–5 years of experience, a high school diploma, and strong customer service skills. The position involves significant phone/radio traffic and coordination with the operations team.

Qualifications

• Must have strong communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks.
• Proficient with computers and standard office software.
• Experience in dispatch or driver coordination is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all routes and scheduling of buses.
• Counsels and coaches drivers and monitors.
• Handles heavy phone and radio traffic.
• Takes scheduling and driver complaints and reports to Operations Supervisor/Contract Manager.
• Serves as primary communication liaison with major contracted customer.
• May handle charter reservations, billing, or driver payroll.
• Provides solutions to drop-off and pick-up problems.
• Assists with supervision of day-to-day operations.

Skills

Excellent communication

Customer service oriented

Ability to work under deadlines

Computer literate

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Radio dispatch equipment

Job description

At First Student, our Dispatchers are a constant reflection of our company's commitment to safety and customer service.

The Dispatcher is responsible for dispatching all buses, ensuring on-time performance of routes, and counseling drivers and monitors on front line.

At First Student, we are proud to offer:

• Tremendous Career Advancement Opportunities due to a strong presence across North America
• Positive and rewarding work environment

Dispatcher Responsibilities:

• Oversees all routes and scheduling of buses
• Counsels and coaches drivers and monitors
• Handles heavy phone and radio traffic
• Takes all scheduling and driver complaints, report to Operations Supervisor/Contract Manager
• Serves as primary communication liaison with major contracted customer
• May handle charter reservations, billing, or driver payroll
• Provides solutions to drop-off and pick-up problems
• Handle back-up driver duties or perform miscellaneous clerical duties as needed
• Completes assignment of special projects
• Assists with supervision of day-to-day operations

Dispatcher Experience and Skills Required:

• 3-5 years experience
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic knowledge of radio dispatch equipment
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Ability to deliver under time constraints and deadlines
• Previous terminal operations, dispatch, or driver experience
• Computer literate
• Subject to background check

First Students commitment to putting our customers first, dedication to safety, and an ambition to deliver dependable transportation makes for a working environment you'll love. As a huge company with 120,000 staff and over 2.5 billion customers worldwide, you'll also enjoy security, a brilliant future, and excellent training.

We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce therefore all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day!

Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II.

Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

MISSION

Provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school, so when students arrive, they start and end their day with an exceptional experience and are ready to achieve their full potential.

FOCUS ON SAFETY

Safety is at the heart of everything we do.

CARE FOR OUR STUDENTS

Ensure our vehicles are welcoming and trusted places where students feel comfortable and secure.

SURPASS CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

Go the extra mile to deliver an extraordinary experience for our customers and communities.

FOSTER TEAMWORK

Work together, act with integrity, respect each other, champion diversity and inclusion.

SET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

Continually seek a better way to do things with innovation, sustainable practices, financial discipline, commercial excellence, and operational excellence.