Dispatcher

First Student is the largest school transportation provider in North America, with more than a century of experience providing safe and reliable transportation. We work with 1,250 school districts in 39 states and 8 Canadian provinces, carrying approximately five million students in 21,000 schools daily.

$25.00/hr

About the Role

The Dispatcher is responsible for dispatching buses and supporting drivers to help ensure safe, reliable, and on-time service within an assigned geographic area. This role serves as a key communication point between drivers, operations, customers, and location leadership.

The Dispatcher supports daily route operations, helps resolve service issues, manages heavy phone and radio communication, and assists with day-to-day operational needs to keep service running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Dispatch buses and provide timely route information to drivers
• Oversee routing and scheduling support for assigned buses and routes
• Monitor on-time performance and help resolve service delays or route concerns
• Serve as a primary communication liaison with contracted customers
• Handle heavy phone and radio traffic in a professional and timely manner
• Assist drivers with day-to-day operational questions and route needs
• Provide solutions for pick-up and drop-off issues as they arise
• Receive scheduling concerns, driver complaints, and service-related issues
• Resolve customer or service problems directly when appropriate or escalate to the Operations Supervisor, Contract Manager, or location leadership
• Coach and counsel drivers on frontline service and operational issues
• Monitor and support resolution of driver performance, disciplinary, and service concerns
• Ensure compliance with operating contracts, state and local ordinances, and company policies and procedures
• May support charter reservations, billing, driver payroll, licensing, or driver hiring activities
• May perform backup driver duties as needed
• Complete clerical duties while buses are in route
• Complete special projects as assigned

What Success Looks Like

• Buses are dispatched accurately and on time
• Drivers receive clear, timely communication and support
• Service issues are handled quickly and professionally
• Customer communication is consistent and reliable
• Route, pick-up, and drop-off concerns are resolved with minimal disruption
• Phone and radio traffic is managed efficiently
• Daily operations remain compliant with company policies, contract requirements, and local regulations
• Location leadership is kept informed of service issues, driver concerns, and operational needs

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Appropriate vehicle license preferred
• 3–5 years of related experience preferred
• Previous terminal operations, dispatch, transportation, school bus, or driver experience preferred
• Basic knowledge of radio dispatch equipment
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Ability to work under time constraints and meet deadlines
• Ability to stay calm and organized in a fast-paced environment
• Computer literacy required
• Strong problem-solving and follow-up skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with drivers, customers, leadership, and internal teams

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to move about an office, terminal, school bus yard, and between floors as needed
• Ability to use standard office equipment
• Ability to access filing systems and cabinets
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in person, by phone, and by radio
• Work may be performed in an office, school bus yard, or transportation facility environment
• Possible on-the-road responsibilities may be required

Why Join First Student

• Play a key role in supporting safe, reliable student transportation
• Work closely with drivers, operations leaders, and school district partners
• Help keep daily service running smoothly and on schedule
• Build experience in transportation operations, dispatch, routing, and frontline service support
• Be part of a mission-driven team that serves students and communities every day

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this role at any time. This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions and does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.