Intermodal Dispatcher

Zelh; United States; Remote; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Zelh is seeking an experienced Intermodal Dispatcher to join our fast-paced logistics team in the United States. You will coordinate overnight transportation, manage 10-15 intermodal drivers, track shipments, and communicate with customers, rail providers, and the daytime team to avoid delays.

Responsibilities include dispatching drivers, monitoring rail statuses, updating the TMS, handling billing streams, and identifying efficiency opportunities to reduce empty miles and improve profitability.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating intermodal shipments.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple shipments simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Dispatch 10–15 intermodal drivers overnight.
• Track shipments and container movements in the TMS.
• Coordinate rail activity and communicate with customers and daytime team.

Skills

Intermodal dispatch

Customer service

Problem solving

Communication

MS Excel

Tools

TMS

Rail portals

ELD (Motive)

Job description

Zelh is a fast-growing outsourcing company focused on providing reliable, high-quality services and building long-term relationships with customers, employees, and vendors.

At Zelh, we're looking for an Intermodal Dispatcher who thrives in a fast-paced logistics environment and enjoys coordinating transportation operations, solving problems, and providing excellent customer service.

In this role, you'll be responsible for managing a fleet of 10-15 intermodal drivers during overnight operations, tracking shipments and containers, coordinating rail activities, and ensuring smooth communication between drivers, customers, rail providers, and the daytime team.

Responsibilities

Dispatching & Shipment Coordination

• Dispatch and coordinate 10-15 intermodal drivers during overnight operations.
• Support drivers finishing their shifts and those starting their working day.
• Coordinate driver schedules, container pickups, deliveries, and reload opportunities to maximize equipment utilization and minimize empty miles.
• Track shipments and containers, monitor driver progress, and update shipment statuses in the TMS.
• Monitor incoming operational emails and take timely action to prevent delays.
• Escalate critical issues and provide clear updates to the daytime team.

Customer Service & Administrative Support

• Review incoming emails, identify customer requests, and determine the appropriate responses or next steps.
• Communicate with customers regarding shipment statuses, additional charges, rail delays, warehouse delays, and traffic disruptions.
• Schedule appointments and coordinate pickup and delivery arrangements.
• Enter work orders and shipment details into the company's system.
• Scan and upload documents, maintain accurate records, and update Excel tracking sheets and operational reports.
• Follow up on pending requests to ensure timely resolution and accurate information.

Rail Operations & Billing

• Track containers through rail carrier websites and verify container availability and release statuses.
• Coordinate rail billing for containers through email and steamship line portals.
• Process payments for rail lift fees and storage charges through rail websites.
• Manage container pickup notifications, export and empty container releases, depot release requests, and street turn requests.
• Coordinate with customers, terminals, depots, warehouses, and rail providers to ensure smooth container movements.

Driving Operational Efficiency

An important part of this role is identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary driver movement. You'll help coordinate reloads, including unloading import containers and loading export containers at the same facility whenever possible.

These efforts help reduce empty miles, minimize driver downtime, improve customer service, and increase profitability. Additional bonuses are available for operational efficiency improvements.

Systems & Tools

Transportation Management System (TMS):

• Profit Tools

Rail Tracking Platforms:

• BNSF, Union Pacific (UP), Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Norfolk Southern (NS), CSX

Customer & Steamship Line Portals:

• BLUME, IMC, OOCL, ONE

Driver Communication & Tracking:

• Intermedia texting platform
• Motive (ELD)
• Phone and email communication

You'll also use Excel, internal work order systems, document management tools, and rail carrier websites for tracking, billing, and container coordination.

Training on customer-specific portals and processes will be provided.