Candidate One: Thank you for taking the time to review the candidate I have nominated for Dispatcher of the year. This individual has been with our company for five and a half years to date. I believe that candidate One's work ethic and knowledge of the industry is what sets Candidate One apart from most dispatchers. With 12 years in the trucking industry, Candidate One has seen the ups and downs and has also noticed what is takes to be the best. Candidate One excels in treating the drivers as Candidate One would want to be treated and we have never had a single complaint on Candidate One's attitude toward any driver. This is a huge part of our flatbed divisions success as we have been able to retain more than 82% of our flatbed drivers in six years. With responsibility for our entire flatbed division consisting of 17 drivers, Candidate One is responsible for all the load planning, inputting the plans into our TMS software, communicating the load information with the driver, ensuring that the drivers are maintaining legal HOS daily, and updating customers with their load status. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Candidate Two: Candidate Two began their career at our company in 2005 as a logistics analyst. Responsible for driver utilization and route efficiency, within a few months it was realized that Candidate Two had an exceptional skill at building rapport with the customers and suppliers and was promoted to our Brokerage/Backhaul department, where Candidate Two would form relationships with carriers and third-party logistic companies who could assist our company in keeping our drivers moving across the country. Candidate Two was promoted to a Load planner in 2012 where they would again work with our driving fleet by matching up routes with the drivers so they not only could obtain miles to make a good living but also enjoy home time with their families. Candidate Two quickly became a favorite among our drivers and was promoted again in 2012 to Driver Manager. Starting out working with a solo fleet of drivers, currently Candidate Two’s specialty is working with our teams. Candidate Two is responsible for communication and coordination with OTR managers between all our terminals in Anderson, Laredo, Vandalia, Paragould and Huntsville and the teams. Candidate Two keeps them moving and happy. The last couple years of COVID, have been rough for all of us in transportation. Candidate Two worked the entire Pandemic to do whatever was needed so the company could remain productive and profitable. Candidate Two was creative, dedicated, and compassionate, crucial skill sets when working during this stressful time. So often when we have these awards, the employee that is nominated is often a supervisor or Manager that “started out as a dispatcher” and although deserving of recognition is no longer a dispatcher. Our nominee is a current dispatcher who is confident, qualified, and exceptional. Candidate Two is the perfect example of what a dispatcher should strive to be. Our Company is extremely proud and fortunate that Candidate Two has chosen to master dispatching and driver management skills with our drivers and has been doing it for 17 years. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Candidate Three: Candidate Three has been with our company since 2008. Candidate Three’s 14 years of service have all been under the title of Office Manager but more than 70% of Candidate Three’s responsibilities and duties center on the daily dispatching and routing of loads for the company. When Candidate Three isn’t dispatching, Candidate Three manages recruiting, driver files, ELD records, training of drivers, payroll, accounts payable and receivable and the overarching daily operations of our company. When talking with our drivers on corrective action items related to ELD records Candidate Three has a repour with the drivers that enables Candidate Three to give guidance and corrective action requirements in a clear and concise manner without angering or speaking derogatively to the driver. The mutual respect Candidate Three has developed with our drivers over the years is the lynchpin to Candidate Three’s continued success across all aspects of the duties, but especially when dispatching. Our drivers know Candidate Three is on their side! Candidate Three has an inherent ability to keep a clear perspective on the tasks at hand, continually multitasking and reprioritizing as situations and requests change. Candidate three’s ability to stay calm and focused enables Candidate Three to stay at the top of all duties as manager. Whatever the problem, Candidate Three’s ability to methodically assess the situation and work with the shipper, consignee, and driver to achieve a safe, and satisfactory to all solution is why we believe Candidate Three should be the IMTA’s 2021 Dispatch Professional of the Year. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Candidate Four: Becoming dispatcher of the year is validation of years of hard work. The Dispatcher of the Year requires going above and beyond regular duties to impact the line-haul department. This is a perfect description of what Candidate Four exhibits on a daily basis. Candidate Four is detail oriented, as well as being astute in planning, scheduling and communicating to drivers the mundane as well as special instructions concerning their individual loads/routes. the majority of our drivers have assigned routes and tactors. Candidate four's responsibility is to communicate with the planners and dock personnel to coordinate proper loads for their routes. Candidate Four also works as an agent of customer service by fielding calls, tracing pros and communicating delivery times and dates. Additionally, Candidate Four ensures drivers as well as the trailers of freight are in compliance with state and federal regulatory standards. To do this Candidate Four must have working knowledge of DOT regulations/requirements. The line-haul department is a fast-paced environment that requires excellent communication, organizational and management skills, Candidate Four possess all three of these skills. Candidate Four's knowledge and experience from working in the industry have given Candidate Four excellent problem solving skills as well as patience that are all key to being a great dispatcher. What sets Cadnidate Four apart is the high standard in which Candidate four performs assigned responsibilities. In short, Candidate Four is a professional. I remember working one Saturday because the planner called off sick and the clerk had a scheduled day off. Upon my arrival, there were many drivers watiing to see Candidate Four, the only dispatcher on duty. I set up the station next to Candidate Four and watched as Candidate Four attended to each driver, keeping his composure and professionalism. Candidate Four maintained control of the office speaking to each driver as if they were the most important person in the room. Not one driver became noticeably irritated despite the circumstances. This is one of the many examples of what sets Candidate Four apart from the other dispatch professionals and why I believe Candidate Four should be "Dispatch Professional of the Year". _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Candidate Five: Candidate Five started with our company nearly eleven years ago as the 3rd shift dispatcher. With four young children at home Candidate Five chose the overnight shift so that Candidate Five could continue to do everything Candidate Five wanted and needed. Candidate Five's life revolves around the children and family. From being room parent, to going on field trips, to preparing for the next weekend trip for gymnastics, Candidate Five found very little time for sleep. I don't know how Candidate Five did it, but indeed managed to run a household, work long hours, earn an Associates Degree and thrive in this career. It was very apparent that Candidate Five was destined to do and be more. While Candidate Five's career goals were not within the trucking industry back in 2011, but rather nursing, Candidate Five soon realized that this is their industry! Quickly gaining the respect of drivers, co-workers, and peers Candidate Five spent many years on third shift, which was great for our company knowing Candidate Five was on duty meant our drivers and customers were being taken care of. Withing a few years we realized that Candidate Five was ready to take on more responsibilities. While our company continued to grow we realized Candidate Five would be perfect in the position of Load Planner. A crucial role to our company, Candidate Five is responsible for scheduling 75+ drivers to a multitude of different customers. The love and respect our drivers have for Candidate Five is a direct correlation to the fact that Candidate Five takes time to connect with them on a personal level, knowing them by name and asking about their family gives our drivers the true since of care Candidate Five has for each of them. Candidate Five takes the job very seriously and is passionate about our company and drivers as a whole. Each decision Candidate Five makes are for the betterment of everyone within the company. When Covid hit, Candidate Five adjusted her schedule, never missing a day, ensuring assigned drivers could work too. Candidate Five, with just a couple of days training, jumped into general freight dispatching when several of her driver's customer's dedicated runs went down, ensuring drivers were still working, had what they needed, and the company was still profitable. I have had the pleasure of working with Candidate Five since day one. From that first day of training I could see that Candidate Five was smart, loyal and a hard worker. Over this last decade Candidate Five has become more than just a co-worker, Candidate Five is my friend. I can't imagine anyone more deserving of this award. While Candidate Five may not have fancy awards, published articles or media interviews, what Candidate Five does have is the love and passion that is undeniable to Candidate Five's drivers, company and this industry!
