Mid Level Intermodal Dispatcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Intermodal Dispatcher is responsible for planning, assigning, and monitoring intermodal trucking operations to ensure safe, efficient, and on-time service. This role coordinates drivers, equipment, chassis, terminals, depots, ports, customer facilities, steamship lines, and internal teams to execute import, export, delivery, pre-pull, empty return, and depot-related moves.

The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of intermodal trucking operations, port procedures, driver management, appointment scheduling, chassis coordination, service recovery, and with at least five to seven years of experience.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Dispatch & Operations

• Plan and dispatch daily intermodal moves based on customer requirements, driver availability, equipment, terminal hours, and service priorities.
• Assign drivers to import, export, delivery, empty return, depot, and port-related moves.
• Monitor driver progress and adjust dispatch plans for delays, congestion, breakdowns, or schedule changes.
• Coordinate urgent loads, missed appointments, service failures, and same-day changes.
• Ensure drivers receive accurate dispatch instructions and load details.

Driver Management & Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for drivers and owner-operators during daily operations.
• Communicate appointment times, pickup and delivery instructions, terminal requirements, chassis information, and customer-specific procedures.
• Monitor driver updates, arrivals, departures, and move completion.
• Resolve operational issues involving terminals, equipment, routing, paperwork, and customer delays.
• Escalate safety concerns, service issues, and equipment problems when necessary.

Intermodal Coordination

• Coordinate activities between ports, terminals, depots, customer facilities, and internal teams.
• Monitor container availability, last free days, ERDs, vessel cutoffs, holds, demurrage, detention, and empty return requirements.
• Coordinate chassis usage, pre-pulls, grounded containers, yard moves, flip requests, and storage needs.
• Identify potential service failures early and communicate corrective actions.

Documentation & Billing Support

• Ensure required paperwork is completed and returned, including delivery orders, bills of lading, interchange documents, PODs, scale tickets, and hazmat paperwork.
• Document detention, layovers, accessorial charges, delays, and service exceptions accurately.
• Maintain accurate updates in the transportation management system to support billing and operational visibility.

Problem Solving & Service Recovery

• Respond quickly to delays, equipment shortages, missed appointments, breakdowns, and documentation issues.
• Communicate service risks and operational updates to customers, CSRs, drivers, and management.
• Support service recovery efforts and recommend improvements to dispatch processes, communication flow, and driver utilization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5–7 years of dispatch experience in intermodal trucking, drayage, ports, ISO tank, chemical logistics, or related transportation operations.
• Strong understanding of import/export intermodal processes, port procedures, chassis coordination, and equipment planning.
• Experience dispatching company drivers and/or owner-operators.
• Ability to manage multiple drivers, loads, appointments, and priorities simultaneously.
• Experience with transportation management systems, dispatch software, GPS/ELD systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work under pressure with a high level of accuracy and urgency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ISO tanks, hazmat, chemical logistics, or bulk liquid transportation.
• Familiarity with Port of Houston operations, Gulf Coast depots, steamship line procedures, and customer portals.
• Experience with TMW, Trimble, Lucrasoft, SAP, Samsara, or similar logistics systems.
• Knowledge of accessorial billing, detention, demurrage, storage, and chassis charges.
• Bilingual communication skills are a plus.