High School

Classes in business, English, and math are a good foundation for this field. These subjects help provide students with the organizational, communications, and accounting skills that are needed in trucking dispatch work.

Postsecondary Education

Formal education is not required for most truck dispatcher jobs but applicants with an associate's or bachelor's degree improve their prospects for work. Courses in business, management, accounting, English, and communications provide a good foundation for this field. Classes in computers are also useful.

There are no certification or licensing requirements for truck dispatchers.

Truck dispatchers must be organized, have clear communication skills, and be able to solve problems quickly and efficiently. There is no specific career track for this job, but some dispatchers have prior experience as junior dispatchers or even as truck drivers. They must be vigilant in staying on top of schedules and monitoring truck drivers' progress throughout the pickup and delivery phases. Knowledge of tracking dispatch software and satellite and global positioning systems is useful. The job also requires strong knowledge of the trucking company's policies and procedures as well as the shipping and driving rules and regulations for both local and regional areas. Truck dispatchers must know the roads and highways they're dispatching trucks to. In addition to all of these skills and knowledge, employers seek dispatchers who are detail oriented, particularly in keeping records of trucking deliveries and pickups for billing. Many trucking companies offer on-the-job training for dispatchers.