Logistics Coordinator/Dispatcher

CR England•Harrisburg, PA

17d

About The Position

The Logistics Coordinator manages asset utilization and drivers to support high customer service and fleet profitability. The role operates in a fast-paced, changing environment and requires organization, forward planning, and a positive, team-oriented approach. The coordinator also assists, coaches, and mentors drivers with training and administrative matters. The position plans and matches freight with trucks and drivers, schedules and assigns driver work, monitors driver and load status, and coordinates with department colleagues, customers, maintenance, supervisors, and managers. In dedicated and training environments, the role may coordinate trainers and trainees, backhauls, trainee progression, team-driver assignments, and routing to terminals. It also addresses urgent disruptions and special driver scheduling needs. The schedule is Sunday through Tuesday, 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesday, 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The role is based in Ono, Pennsylvania, and may require work at a customer location and occasional travel by air or car.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Prior logistics or planning experience required.
Ability to use office equipment and computers for most tasks; familiarity with Microsoft Office suite programs.
Proficiency with Excel and other reporting capabilities.
Excellent interpersonal skills when working with drivers, personnel, customers, and management.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong geographical knowledge and expertise in time and distance requirements as they pertain to Department of Transportation regulations.
Ability to hear normal speaking levels and receive detailed oral information, with or without correction.
Ability to kneel, stoop, bend, push, lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to work extended hours, including weekends, holidays, and various shifts, including evenings and nights, as necessary.
Ability to sit at a desk for extended periods and work with computer equipment.
Ability to speak, write, and read English well enough to communicate with people with varying education levels and capabilities.
Visual acuity, with or without correction, sufficient to prepare and analyze data and figures, view a computer terminal, and read extensively.
Ability to manage multiple assignments amid frequent interruptions, changes, and delays, while remaining focused, effective, efficient, and cheerful.
Ability to handle requests for assistance by phone and in person while working on other tasks.
Ability to remain professional in challenging situations.
Ability to follow customer rules and requirements, including dress code, access, and hours, when working at a customer location.
Ability to travel occasionally by air or car.

Nice To Haves

College degree preferred; a combination of college work and experience will be considered.
Transportation or logistics industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and match planned freight with day cabs or condo trucks and drivers; in a dedicated training environment, coordinate trainer and trainee hours and home-time needs.
Review PTAs and driver requests for time off or home time when planning same-day or next-day dispatches.
Schedule work and assign tasks to drivers.
Coordinate with department colleagues to maintain awareness of driver, freight, and asset availability.
Identify drivers who may need additional support, coaching, or disciplinary action and notify supervisors and managers.
Coordinate with Maintenance regarding trucks that are out of service or returning to service, and plan and dispatch accordingly.
Plan future freight when customer information is available.
Track drivers, loads, and receivers to keep dispatching on plan.
In a dedicated environment, coordinate backhauls to meet customer needs and keep freight, trucks, and trailers moving consistently.
Maintain frequent contact with assigned drivers and monitor call-offs, fatigue concerns, and equipment issues.
In a dedicated training environment, ensure trainees are progressing appropriately to the next training phase and placement.
For team drivers, ensure assigned loads are appropriate for the team and available hours.
Monitor Hours of Service for dispatching and compliance.
In a dedicated training environment, focus efforts on routing trucks or solo drivers with capacity to a terminal for improved efficiency.
Handle urgent situations involving recovery of trucks, freight, or drivers, as well as traffic, weather, or other circumstances that could prevent on-time delivery.
Assist with orienting new drivers to fleets or accounts, including communication, reporting-to-work, and scheduling expectations.
Work with drivers to address unique scheduling needs and issues.
Coordinate with supervisors and managers on special matters, including leaves of absence, extended time-off requests, and concerns about meeting expectations.