Dispatcher

Compass Transportation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Transportation is seeking a Dispatcher in Chicago to coordinate drivers and equipment for routes, excursions, and field trips. You’ll maintain coverage to meet scheduling demand and ensure timely communication with schools and parents.

You will operate dispatch systems, assign drivers, track incidents, and handle charter reservations while collaborating with maintenance and office staff to keep operations running smoothly.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED or related experience required.
• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.
• Working knowledge of two-way radio equipment and dispatching devices.
• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to drive a school bus and other district vehicles safely.
• Familiarity with the geographic region and transportation equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operates a two-way radio to dispatch drivers and vehicles on all routes.
• Ensure that routes have buses and drivers assigned; check-in drivers.
• Communicate with drivers about incidents, route changes, or emergencies.
• Develop schedules for routes, workload, and driver training.
• Assign spare drivers and manage overtime considerations.
• Coordinate bus assignments when regular buses are out of service.
• Provide route sheets, maps, and materials to drivers.
• Train others on the dispatching system and procedures.
• Notify schools and parents of schedule changes and incidents.
• Resolve scheduling problems to ensure safe coverage.
• Collaborate with maintenance to minimize schedule impact.
• Support schools and parents during issues and gather necessary information.
• Book and schedule charter reservations and provide customer support.
• Invoice customers for reservations and contracted routes.

Skills

Outstanding communication

Customer service

Two-way radio operations

Geographic region knowledge

Team collaboration

Driving school bus

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

QuickBooks

Adobe

Job description

SUMMARY:

The Dispatcheris responsible for coordinating and assigning drivers and equipment to assigned routes, excursions, and field trips. The Dispatcher maintains the overall coverage required to meet the transportation operation scheduling demand.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operates a two-way radio to dispatch drivers and vehicles on all routes, including regular school bus drivers, and special education drivers.

• Assure that all school bus routes have buses and drivers assigned. Check in all drivers in the morning and afternoon.

• Stays in communication with all bus drivers to receive or provide information and assists with situations such as equipment breakdowns, road hazards, accidents, student locations, route changes or emergencies; notifies schools of late buses or buses involved in emergency situations.

• Develops schedules (e.g. routes, workload, special trips, driver training, etc.) for the purpose of determining driver and equipment requirements

• Assigns spare drivers for absent regular drivers or assigns drivers to cover trips; maintains equity in assignment of drivers and minimizes overtime.

• Assigns buses to drivers when regular buses are out of service.

• Assures that drivers are provided with route sheets, maps, and any other items necessary for completing their assignments. Reviews the proper routes with spare bus drivers.

• Assists in various duties as needed and/or in the absence of the department director (e.g. timesheets, interviewing job candidates, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the effective and efficient performance department goals.

• Compiles a variety of data (e.g. incident reports, inspections, student count, passenger misconduct, mileage, etc.) for the purpose of developing formal reports; conveying information; and complying with mandated requirements.

• Assists and trains others on how to operate the dispatching system, including appropriate policies and procedures.

• Informs school personnel, parents, etc. of practices and incidents (e.g. rules, regulations, laws, procedures, etc.) for the purpose of providing information for follow-up action and/or proper procedures.

• Resolves transportation scheduling problems (e.g. driver absenteeism, out-of-service vehicles, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring all routes are covered in a safe and efficient manner.

• Work together with maintenance to assure that buses are worked on when they least effect schedule.

• Work with maintenance to assure that safety issues are dealt with in a timely manner.

• Provides back upto drive a school bus or other staff, as assigned.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Notify customers of any changes to schedule.

• Answer and field all phone calls and correspondence.

• Provide assistance and support to schools and parents when issues arise; this includes relaying information or gathering necessary information when incomplete.

• Communicate scheduling and customer service issues with subcontracted companies.

• Book and schedule charter reservations.

• Provide customer support for all bus reservations.

• Invoice customers for bus reservations.

• Invoice for contracted school routes.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.

• Working knowledge of two-way radio equipment operation and dispatching devices.

• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Ability to drive a school bus and other district vehicles safely and efficiently.

• Knowledge of the geographic region, school locations, and student transporting equipment, or ability to learn within a reasonable amount of time. Ability to become familiar with streets and roads, read maps, and learn about transportation equipment and student needs.

Computer Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Quickbooks, and Adobe.

• Database experience preferred.