Dispatcher - Carrier Specialist

United Road Logistics LLC; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BCBS PPO Medical with Telehealth

401(k) with Company Match

PTO Program (Vacation, Sick, Personal)

Job summary

United Road is seeking a Dispatcher - Carrier Specialist to plan, assign, and manage loads from tender to delivery in a fast-paced logistics environment. You will build real relationships with professional car haulers, monitor orders for accuracy, and collaborate with account managers to optimize throughput while protecting margin.

This role requires strong Excel and communication skills, the ability to multi-task under pressure, and a customer-focused mindset; rotation may include early, late,

Qualifications

• College degree or logistics/dispatch experience preferred.
• FMCSA and DOT awareness.
• Elog experience is a plus.
• Solid Excel skills and proficient with MS Office.
• Ability to learn our TMS quickly.

Responsibilities

• Plan, assign, and manage loads from tender to delivery.
• Work the load board to minimize unassigned orders.
• Build carrier relationships and communicate updates proactively.
• Balance carrier revenue with service requirements and company margins.
• Monitor orders for accuracy and resolve issues promptly.

Skills

Effective listening

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Multi-tasking

Decision-making under pressure

Excel proficiency

Education

College degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

TMS

Job description

Dispatcher - Carrier SpecialistAbout United RoadUnited Road is the largest finished vehicle logistics company in North America. We move new and used vehicles for OEMs, dealerships, auctions, and fleet operators across the continent. We do it through company drivers, owner-operators, and thousands of third-party carriers in our Haully network.Our pillars are simple: Expertise, Partnership, and being Ever-Present for our customers and carriers. This role lives the Partnership pillar every day.The roleThe Dispatcher plans, assigns, and manages loads from tender to delivery. This seat buys third-party capacity within the rate corridor, keeps carriers loyal to the network, and owns the status truth on every active order on its board.It is also a service seat. When a vehicle is running behind, sitting too long, or off plan, the Dispatcher knows it first, fixes what can be fixed, and tells the right people before they have to ask. The role calls for someone who thinks quickly, exercises independent judgment, and works with professional car haulers, account managers, and internal stakeholders in a courteous and professional manner every day.The best people in this seat balance a car hauler's revenue needs against service requirements and company profitability, on every load, without losing their tone or their temper.ResponsibilitiesOperationsPlan, coordinate, and manage loads efficiently and cost-effectively from load assignment through deliveryWork the load board to zero unassigned orders past threshold, every shiftBuy capacity within the rate corridor; take exceptions to the Site Manager with a reason, before the fact and not afterKeep every active order's status current in the TMS before end of shift — the system is the truth other people act onMonitor all current orders to confirm accurate pick-up and delivery against customer performance standardsFlag at-risk deliveries the moment they are known, never after the missResolve exceptions on your own orders the same shift, or escalate with what you have already triedOther duties as assigned by the department manager or senior managementCarrier Relationships & ServiceServe as the first point of contact for professional car haulers and carriers on assigned orders: fast, straight, and professionalBuild real relationships with your carriers — they should take your call first because you have been fair and honest with themOwn proactive status communication: push updates, ETAs, and exceptions to account managers and site teams before they have to askWork side by side with the account managers on your accounts — share the operational picture daily, align on priorities, and give them what they need for the conversations they ownTroubleshoot and resolve service issues effectively and professionally; pull in whoever is needed to close them outBalance the car hauler's revenue needs with service requirements and the company's margin, on every loadSet the tone on every interaction: courtesy under pressure is a job requirement, not a personality traitPeopleSupport new team members informally; the team's standard is everyone's jobCover teammates' boards during rotations and absences without dropping status qualityFinancialKnow the margin on every load dispatchedLog every carrier decline with a reason — this feeds the analytics rate desk and the carrier network team's capacity planningProtect revenue by keeping units moving: dwell is money sitting stillSchedule & CoverageVehicles move around the clock, so our dispatch desk covers more than a nine-to-five. Here is exactly what that looks like, so there are no surprises:Standard shift: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.Rotating later shift: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This rotates through the whole team on a published cycle, so nobody carries the evenings alone.Weekends: one weekend per month as part of the same rotation.Rosters are published two weeks ahead so you can plan your life around them.Scheduled coverage shifts are paid at a premium, and coverage reliability is one of the things we consider when a promotion comes up.We build the schedule together and we share it evenly. Show up for the rotation and the rotation shows up for you — coverage work gets recognized every week, and it counts for you when opportunities open up.Performance & DevelopmentCome to your weekly one-on-one with the Site Manager prepared: know your board, your numbers, and your risks before you sit downTreat it as a working session, not a status report — bring the blockers you need cleared and the decisions you need madeOwn your scorecard. It is reviewed with you, never done to you, and you should never be surprised by what is on itCarry one development goal at a time and work it with your Site Manager until it is closedGive and take feedback in the moment; the standard is set every shift, not once a quarterKey Performance IndicatorsTargets are set against a 30-day baseline and reviewed quarterly.On-time pickup and delivery %Status timeliness and status accuracyProactive notification rate — exceptions communicated before anyone has to askCarrier and internal stakeholder response timeLoads dispatched per dayCarrier acceptance rate on first offerException resolution timeMargin per load dispatchedCoverage reliability — rotation shifts worked as scheduledCareer PathFrom this seat: Site Manager, then Ops Manager. The evidence we look for is coverage reliability, peer leadership, and board quality.What We Are Looking ForA competitor. You like to win — the load covered, the exception closed, the update sent before anyone chased you for it.A closer, not a hand-off artist. You chase problems until they are resolved rather than passing them along.A relationship builder with carriers. Car haulers take your calls first because you have been straight with them.A relationship builder inside the building. Account managers, site teams, and the carrier network team trust what you tell them.Someone who wants to grow with us. This seat is the entry point to Site Manager and Ops Manager, and we promote from it.Calm under pressure, courteous under pressure, and honest when the news is bad.Skills RequiredEffective listening and strong written and verbal communication skillsExcellent service orientation and resolution skillsRelationship-building skills with carriers and internal stakeholders alikeHighly organized and detail orientedFast, calm decision-making under pressure; able to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environmentSolid Excel skills — comfortable working in spreadsheets daily: sorting and filtering large order lists, building and reading reports, and using basic formulas and pivot tables to track board performanceIntermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word and OutlookAbility to learn our TMS and internal systems quicklyQualificationsCollege degree, or one year of logistics or dispatch experience, preferably in a trucking environmentStrong oral, written, and electronic communication skillsFMCSA and DOT awarenessElog experience is a plusDemonstrated interest in growing into a Site Manager or Ops Manager seat over timeAvailability to work the published rotation, including the 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM shift and one weekend per monthBenefits SummaryUnited Road is proud to offer our full-time employees best-in-class benefits designed to support your health, well-being, and financial security. From comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage to generous retirement savings options and paid time off, we provide a benefits package that goes beyond the basics. We also offer unique perks like a zero-dollar-out-of-paycheck medical plan, telehealth, wellness discounts, and employee assistance resources, ensuring that our team is fully supported both at work and in life. These benefits reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent while helping employees thrive every day.Health & WellnessBCBS PPO Medical with TelehealthDelta DentalNVA VisionCompany Paid Life and AD&DSupplemental LifeDependent LifeShort-Term DisabilityEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)New Vehicle Supplier DiscountsFinancial Benefits401(k) with Company MatchWork-Life BalancePTO Program (Vacation, Sick, Personal, Jury, Bereavement)6 Paid Holidays