Technology keeps improving for business and that is certainly the case for your dispatching software for your home office. A successful dispatcher is going to use all kinds of software to work their business. This article goes into detail on the software that is most useful for dispatchers. Some software is fee based, but others are free.
Trucking Agents is a software that brings a network of dispatchers and drivers together. The software allows for the dispatcher to track their loads, trucks, and commissions. The program allows for communication via email, text, and fax giving the dispatcher the ability to communicate quickly and accurately. Notes are often automatically generated to keep a history on the load as it progresses. Trucking Agents software also has a training module where dispatchers have access to lessons on various industry topices, software demonstration videos, and links to useful web pages and PDF documents.
A dispatcher needs to be able to advertise their trucks, so a truck posting board is the best tool to accomplish this goal. A dispatcher also needs to search for loads and so software that allows you to find loads throughout the country is essential. There are many of these boards out there available. Some are pay versions while others offer free access. It is recommended to have at least one well known pay version like:
A dispatcher will also want to have access to some free sites that are often provided by various trucking and broker companies. Trucking Agents has a list of some of these free sites in their training program.
Email is just apart of our daily lives anymore and it is no different for the business of a dispatcher. Fortunately, with free email services like Gmail, you can have all the professionalism and accessibility to email a dispatcher would require. It is recommended to have a designated professional email with a branded domain name, but you can use Gmail as your email client and manage your emails. Email is a necessary tool to communicate with drivers and customers. In fact, it is recommended to use email instead of the phone when possible, as your communications are tracked and time date stamped to prevent future problems and resolve he said/she said arguments.
A PDF Reader like
Adobe Reader, although there are others, offer some great features for dispatchers. Most load rate confirmations are emailed as a PDF which makes viewing them easy with a PDF reader. The PDF reader you use should allow you to:
Once your document has the necessary updates you can re-save your PDF document and email it back to a customer or driver. Trucking Agents software also allows you to upload the PDF document to the load in the system.
To be a successful dispatcher working from home, you need the right software for the job. If you have the items listed above, you will have what it takes to build your business.
