Warehouse Produce Dispatcher

Dispatcher – Produce Warehouse

Company Overview
We are a fast-growing, temperature-controlled produce distributor serving regional and national grocery chains, food-service companies, and wholesalers. Our success depends on flawlessly timed outbound shipments and proactive communication with carriers, drivers, and customers. We are seeking an organized, customer-focused Dispatcher to manage all outbound order confirmations, delivery appointments, and related customer inquiries from our warehouse.

Position Summary
The Dispatcher is the primary point of contact for scheduling and confirming produce shipments. This role verifies daily shipping orders, books delivery appointments with receivers, coordinates dock schedules, and provides real-time updates to customers regarding loading times and appointment status. Accuracy, clear communication, and a sense of urgency are critical in maintaining product freshness and on-time delivery.

Key Responsibilities
Order & Appointment Management

• Review, validate, and finalize all shipping orders in the TMS/WMS before cutoff times.
• Schedule delivery appointments with consignees, distribution centers, and cold storage facilities, ensuring appointment numbers are captured in the system.
• Update appointment information and order status in real time for cross-functional teams (Sales, Transportation, Warehouse).
• Proactively monitor pending orders and identify conflicts (e.g., over-booked docks, late pickups), adjusting schedules as needed.

Customer & Carrier Communication

• Serve as the single point of contact for all customer inquiries related to loading times, appointment windows, and order status.
• Confirm load details—including pallet counts, temperatures, and special handling—with carriers and drivers.
• Provide carriers with pickup numbers, dock assignments, and loading instructions.
• Notify customers immediately of any delays, changes, or issues impacting delivery and document actions taken.

Documentation & Compliance

• Generate and distribute shipping documents (BOLs, pallet tags, temperature records).
• Verify that carrier insurance, trailer sanitation, and temperature requirements meet company and regulatory standards (FSMA, HACCP).
• Record detention times, lumper fees, and accessorial charges accurately for billing.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate closely with warehouse leads to balance labor and dock capacity with scheduled outbound volume.
• Partner with Sales and Procurement to prioritize time-sensitive or high-value loads.
• Suggest process improvements to reduce wait times, increase on-time performance, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Participate in daily logistics huddles and end-of-shift hand-offs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree in logistics, supply chain, or business preferred.

• Bilingual in Spanish/English

• 2+ years in dispatch, logistics coordination, or shipping/receiving—produce or perishable experience highly desirable.
• Proficiency with transportation or warehouse management software (e.g., MercuryGate, TruckMate, SAP TM) and MS Office Suite.
• Strong knowledge of appointment scheduling practices for major grocery DCs and cold storage facilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to convey critical information quickly and diplomatically.
• Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and remain calm under time pressure

Key Competencies

• Detail Orientation – catches discrepancies in orders, dates, and pallet counts.
• Customer Focus – anticipates questions; provides prompt, accurate answers.
• Problem Solving – reroutes loads or reschedules docks to meet strict delivery windows.
• Sense of Urgency – recognizes the impact of delays on fresh produce quality.
• Teamwork – collaborates with warehouse staff, sales reps, and drivers for seamless execution.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Warehouse office setting adjacent to refrigerated docks (ambient temps may vary).
• Primarily computer and phone work; occasional walkthroughs of dock area.
• Standard schedule: Mon–Fri 6 AM–3 PM with rotating evening/weekend on-call as volume dictates.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive hourly wage or salary (commensurate with experience) plus overtime eligibility.
• Health, dental, vision, and 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and holiday pay.
• Employee produce discount and wellness initiatives.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Language:

• Fluent Spanish (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Canby, OR 97013 (Required)

Work Location: In person