Dispatcher in Gaithersburg, Maryland at HWS LLC

Key responsibilities

Load planning and assignment

• Assign loads to drivers based on location, equipment, hours of service, and delivery windows
• Build efficient routes that cut empty miles, fuel cost, and tolls
• Book and confirm pickup and delivery appointments with shippers and receivers

Driver communication and support

• Act as each driver's first point of contact throughout the shift
• Track trucks via ELD/GPS and confirm check-calls, arrivals, and departures
• Reroute drivers around delays, weather, road closures, and breakdowns
• Coordinate roadside assistance, repairs, and recovery with Maintenance

Customer service

• Give customers and brokers accurate ETAs and proactive delay notices
• Resolve service failures, detention, and accessorial issues quickly and professionally

Compliance and safety

• Plan loads within FMCSA hours-of-service limits; never pressure drivers to exceed them
• Flag drivers, equipment, or loads with compliance, safety, or documentation gaps
• Report accidents and incidents to Safety per company procedure

Records and reporting

• Keep load status, notes, and documents current in the TMS
• Collect BOLs and PODs to support same-day billing
• Hand off open issues clearly at shift change

Skills and tools

• Problem-solving under pressure: makes sound calls fast when loads, drivers, or schedules change
• Communication: clear, calm, and respectful with drivers, customers, and coworkers by phone, text, and email
• Multitasking: manages [15–30] trucks at once without losing track of details
• Accuracy: keeps records clean and complete for billing, payroll, and audits
• Technology: TMS ([e.g. McLeod, TMW, Samsara]), ELD/telematics, load boards (DAT, Truckstop), Microsoft 365

Working conditions and success measures

This is a fast-paced office role with long stretches at a computer and on the phone. Dispatchers share after-hours and weekend on-call coverage on a rotating basis.

Qualifications

Required

High school diploma or GED

1+ year of dispatch, logistics, or transportation operations experience

Working knowledge of FMCSA hours-of-service rules and ELD requirements

Strong geography and map-reading skills across [service region]

Preferred

2+ years dispatching for an asset-based truckload or LTL carrier

Associate's or bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain, or business

Experience with [equipment type, e.g. dry van, reefer, flatbed]

Former CDL holder or driver experience

Bilingual English/Spanish