HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A typical path starts in secondary school, where students focus on English, math, computers, and communication. Many dispatchers build experience in customer service, office work, transportation, logistics, or emergency-support settings after graduation. Some employers may prefer job-related college training or on-the-job instruction, but requirements vary by employer, province, and the type of dispatch work. Early experience with phones, scheduling, record keeping, and computer systems can be helpful. Strong attention to detail, staying calm under pressure, and good teamwork are also useful for this job.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Receive requests for emergency assistance or service and contact ambulances, police and fire departments, tow-trucks, and utility crews
- Process and transmit information and instructions to co-ordinate the activities of vehicle operators, crews and equipment using a variety of computer-aided communications and dispatching equipment
- Dispatch personnel according to written schedules and work orders, or as required by emergency situations
- Advise vehicle operators of route and traffic problems such as construction, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, weight and size restrictions and other information
- Monitor personnel workloads and locations
- Maintain operator work records using computerized or manual methods and ensure time sheets and payroll summaries are completed accurately
- Maintain computer and manual records of mileage, fuel use, repairs and other expenses, and generate reports.
SKILLS TO BUILD
Skills used in this Career
Communication SkillsComputer LiteracyRecord-keeping/inventorySupervisory Experience