Dispatcher

Parker Oil Propane; South Hill (VA); On-site; USD 42,981,000 - 71,635,000; Full time

Job summary

Parker Oil Propane in South Hill, VA is seeking a Delivery Dispatcher to plan, coordinate, and monitor fuel deliveries for safe, timely, and reliable service.

This role balances customer commitments with route productivity, demand forecasting, driver resources, and daily priorities to support Parker Oil Company’s commitments to Keep Customers SAFE, Keep Customers INFORMED, and Put Customers FIRST.

Qualifications

• Strong planning, scheduling, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
• Clear, professional communication with drivers, managers, and customers.
• Commitment to safety, reliability, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage delivery routes based on demand and driver availability.
• Review daily workflow, forecasts, and delivery accuracy.
• Coordinate adjustments and handle service issues while limiting route changes after dispatch.
• Communicate plans and risks to drivers, managers, and customers.
• Monitor performance metrics related to service and productivity.

Skills

Planning

Scheduling

Prioritization

Decision making

Communication

Safety

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: South Hill Plant - South Hill, VA 23970, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $15.00 - $25.00 Hourly, Position Summary: The Delivery Dispatcher is responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring fuel delivery operations to ensure customers receive safe, timely, efficient, and reliable service. This role balances customer commitments, route productivity, demand forecasting, driver resources, equipment capacity, and daily operational priorities while supporting Parker Oil Company’s commitment to Keep Customers SAFE, Keep Customers INFORMED, and Put Customers FIRST.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Build, review, and manage productive delivery routes based on customer demand, forecasted need, route density, driver availability, truck capacity, and customer service commitments.
• Conduct daily workflow reviews, including prior-day exceptions, monitor alerts, overnight orders, route progress, unassigned deliveries, and future delivery planning.
• Review forecasting information for accuracy, including due dates, runout dates, K-Factors, hot water usage, usage rates, route tables, delivery history, and exception reports.
• Validate and analyze tank monitor information and prioritize deliveries.
• Prepare and manage delivery tickets to ensure selected work supports customer needs, route productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate delivery adjustments, reassignment decisions, emergency requests, and service issues while limiting unnecessary route changes after dispatch.
• Communicate clearly and proactively with drivers, Plant Managers, Customer Service Representatives, Office Staff, Service Technicians, and customers as needed.
• Escalate safety concerns, runouts, missed commitments, equipment failures, monitor issues, and other critical service risks promptly.
• Support labor and resource planning by coordinating driver schedules, vehicle utilization, non-production assignments, and future workload needs with Plant Managers.
• Monitor performance indicators related to customer service, forecast accuracy, route productivity, communication effectiveness, labor utilization, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications: Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong planning, scheduling, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to balance customer service, safety, route productivity, labor availability, and equipment capacity.
• Understanding of demand forecasting principles, including Degree Days, K-Factors, usage rates, due dates, runout dates, and forecasting exceptions.
• Ability to interpret tank monitor data, delivery history, route information, and operational reports.
• Clear, professional, and proactive communication skills with drivers, managers, customer service teams, and customers.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to document actions accurately.
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively to changing conditions, service risks, emergency deliveries, and operational disruptions.
• Commitment to safety, customer satisfaction, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Expectations

• Prevent service failures, runouts, missed commitments, and avoidable emergency deliveries through proactive planning and forecast maintenance.
• Maintain productive routes by improving route density, reducing unnecessary mileage, balancing workloads, and minimizing route changes after dispatch.
• Review and resolve forecast exceptions, repeat exception accounts, early deliveries, late deliveries, small drop sizes, and zero-gallon deliveries.
• Communicate operational plans, service risks, and route changes in a timely and professional manner.
• Document decisions and corrective actions consistently to support accountability and future review.
• Demonstrate continuous improvement by reviewing performance outcomes and identifying opportunities to improve forecasting, routing, communication, and customer service.

Working Relationships

The Delivery Dispatcher works closely with drivers, Plant Managers, Customer Service Representatives, Office Staff, Service Technicians, and customers. This position serves as a central communication point for daily delivery operations and must maintain strong coordination across departments to protect safety, service quality, and operational performance.

Core Values and Service Commitment

The Delivery Dispatcher is expected to model Parker Oil Company’s core values by doing the right thing, taking pride in their work, being respectful, taking initiative, and being a team player. Every dispatch decision should support the company’s customer commitment: Keep Customers SAFE, Keep Customers INFORMED, and Put Customers FIRST.