Dispatcher- Port, Local & Regional Transportation Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Dispatcher coordinates safe, efficient, and timely freight movement throughout Harbor's Charleston-area operations. This role manages daily driver assignments and communicates with drivers, customers, terminals, rail facilities, and internal teams to support port container drayage, local and regional routes, tanker operations, and Rapid Rail/intermodal activity. The successful candidate is organized, responsive, calm under pressure, and knowledgeable about the operating requirements of the Charleston transportation market.

Key Responsibilities

· Plan, assign, and monitor daily loads for local and regional drivers based on customer requirements, equipment availability, driver hours, appointment windows, and operational priorities.

· Coordinate import and export container moves through Charleston-area marine terminals, including appointment scheduling, container availability, cutoff dates, last-free-day awareness, and empty returns.

· Support tanker dispatch by matching qualified drivers and appropriate equipment to loads while following customer, safety, and regulatory requirements.

· Coordinate Rapid Rail and other rail/intermodal moves, including rail availability, release status, pickup and delivery appointments, and communication with rail facilities and customers.

· Track drivers and loads from dispatch through completion; proactively communicate delays, exceptions, equipment issues, and changes to affected parties.

· Provide drivers with accurate load instructions, documentation, routing details, terminal information, and customer-specific requirements.

· Monitor driver hours of service and work closely with Safety and Operations to support compliance with DOT, FMCSA, port, rail, and company requirements.

· Maintain accurate dispatch records and update transportation systems with load status, arrival and departure times, accessorial events, and supporting documentation.

· Help identify and document detention, demurrage, layover, chassis, storage, or other service-related exceptions for timely review and billing.

· Respond professionally to driver and customer questions, resolve day-to-day service issues, and escalate significant concerns promptly.

· Coordinate with Customer Service, Safety, Maintenance, Billing, and Operations to ensure reliable service and complete load documentation.

· Participate in after-hours or on-call coverage as required by operational needs.

Required Qualifications

· Prior transportation dispatch experience, including direct experience with port container or drayage operations.

· Working knowledge of local and regional trucking operations in the Charleston market.

· Experience coordinating tanker and rail/intermodal freight, including Rapid Rail activity, strongly preferred.

· Understanding of terminal appointments, container releases, chassis coordination, empty returns, and import/export documentation.

· Knowledge of DOT and hours-of-service requirements and the ability to make safe, compliant dispatch decisions.

· Strong computer skills and experience with transportation management, dispatch, GPS, ELD, email, and Microsoft Office systems.

· Clear written and verbal communication skills with a strong customer-service mindset.

· Ability to prioritize multiple time-sensitive assignments, solve problems quickly, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

· High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education in transportation, logistics, or supply chain is a plus.

Core Competencies

· Dispatch planning and operational judgment

· Driver communication and relationship management

· Customer service and issue resolution

· Attention to detail and documentation accuracy

· Sense of urgency, reliability, and accountability

· Teamwork across operations, safety, maintenance, and customer service

Work Environment & Schedule

This position is based in the Charleston, South Carolina area and operates in a fast-paced transportation environment. The schedule may require early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, or after-hours coverage based on customer and operational needs. The role regularly uses computers, phones, and dispatch systems and requires extended periods of sitting and communicating with drivers and customers.

\nCompany Description

Harbor provides transportation, truck/rail transload, and warehousing services in Charleston to diverse industrial and commercial counterparties. As the largest drayage provider and one of the largest warehouse providers in Charleston, Harbor offers supply chain capacity via an asset-based model that provides a tailored customer experience. Growth-focused, the Harbor Team is dedicated to exceeding expectations, working with like-minded partners, and ethical decision making.

Company Description

Harbor provides transportation, truck/rail transload, and warehousing services in Charleston to diverse industrial and commercial counterparties. As the largest drayage provider and one of the largest warehouse providers in Charleston, Harbor offers supply chain capacity via an asset-based model that provides a tailored customer experience. Growth-focused, the Harbor Team is dedicated to exceeding expectations, working with like-minded partners, and ethical decision making.