Sr Dispatcher

• Oversees all routing and scheduling of buses; dispatch buses and provide timely and accurate route and passenger information to drivers on route. Reviews route change requests with drivers and submits appropriate paperwork for approval. Maintains an appropriate log to record the date of submission, change number and who the change was submitted to.
• Monitors sign-in and sign-out times for each route and submits requests for changes as necessary. Adjusts route hours as necessary to ensure productivity and reduce overtime.
• Demonstrates and promotes "Safety First" culture at the location. Responsible to broadcast daily safety messages during A.M. and P.M. route times. Works with the location safety personnel to develop meaningful safety messages.
• Assigns drivers and, when necessary, monitors to routes. Where a "Bid" process is used, the dispatcher is responsible for posting routes and overseeing the "Bid" process.
• Ensures that all routes (both AM and PM) are properly "dry" run prior to the start of service.
• In the event that FIRST STUDENT, INC. is required to establish routes for a school district, this information shall be efficiently compiled, written, and submitted to the district officials within the time frames specified.
• Responsible for opening or closing the location, check the answering service for messages and receive calls from any drivers who will not be at work. Tracks daily attendance and communicates issues to the manager.
• Accurately updates daily dispatch log including the status of vehicles and replacements, open routes, sub driver assignments and other on-going operations items. Record all late buses, breakdowns and accidents on the dispatch log. Information recorded will include time of occurrence, location of bus, route affected, bus involved and a detailed description of what steps are being taken to resolve the problem.
• Collect all pre-trip inspection reports from drivers. Inspection reports will be documented, dated, and filed. Vehicles (buses) needing repairs shall be reported to the service department. Responsible for working with the Shop Manager with respect to scheduling buses for preventive maintenance (P.M.) service(s), reporting breakdowns, and discussing driver concerns regarding the fleet.
• Shall assist in answering the telephone per telephone Standards and provide follow-up to questions or inquiries.
• Performs other tasks as assigned.

• High School diploma or equivalent. Appropriate vehicle license preferred.

• 5-7 years experience.
• Basic knowledge of radio dispatch equipment, excellent communications and customer service skills.
• Ability to work under time constraints and deadlines.
• Problem solving and analytical abilities.
• Previous terminal operations, dispatch, or driver experience.
• Good computer skills

• Must be able to move about the office and between floors; utilize standard office equipment; access filing system/cabinets; and communicate effectively and efficiently in person or by telephone. Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Office/school bus yard. Possible on-the-road

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.

About us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we’ve provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we’re proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.

Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year — the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.

Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they’re travelling.
Passionate about safety, we’ve installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.

Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.

Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.

We’re very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we’re trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.

Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.

Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we’re able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you’ll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.