Education · 1 of 4

The path

No degree needed. Most dispatchers came off a loading dock, a driver's seat or a customer service desk.

1. 1

   High school diploma or an equivalency certificate

   Grade 12

   Enough math to work out hours, miles and rates, and enough patience to be shouted at politely.

2. 2

   Get into a transport company any way you can

   6 to 18 months

   Warehouse, dock, driver check-in, customer service. Carriers promote dispatchers from inside far more often than they hire from outside.

3. 3

   Learn the rules

   Ongoing

   Federal hours of service limits, load securement, weights and what a driver can legally do today. Getting this wrong puts a truck out of service.

4. 4

   Take the desk

   1 to 2 years

   Start on a small board of drivers or a night shift, then move to a bigger board as you prove you can keep trucks moving.

5. 5

   Specialize or move up

   3 to 5 years

   Freight brokerage, fleet management, safety and compliance, or terminal operations.