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Version:
NOC 2006 Version 1.0

1475 – Dispatchers and Radio Operators

Dispatchers operate radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch emergency vehicles and to co-ordinate the activities of drivers and other personnel. They are employed by police, fire and health departments, other emergency service agencies, taxi, delivery and courier services, trucking and utilities companies, and other commercial and industrial establishments. Radio operators receive, transmit and record signals and messages using radios and other telecommunication equipment. They are employed by transportation companies, mining, forestry and other industrial establishments, and the armed forces.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • 911 dispatcher
  • Airline radio operator
  • Alarm system dispatcher
  • Alarm system operator
  • Ambulance dispatcher
  • Boat dispatcher
  • Car assignments clerk
  • Car dispatcher, coal mine
  • Coal mine car dispatcher
  • Communications specialist dispatcher
  • Dispatcher, 911
  • Dispatcher, fire department
  • Dispatcher, gas service crews
  • Dispatcher, mail service
  • Dispatcher, mine
  • Dispatcher, mobile equipment
  • Dispatcher, mobile-support equipment operators - military
  • Dispatcher, motor vehicles
  • Dispatcher, newspapers
  • Dispatcher, oil well services
  • Dispatcher, plant
  • Dispatcher, police
  • Dispatcher, taxis
  • Dispatcher, tow trucks
  • Dispatcher, trucks
  • Dispatcher, utilities maintenance crews
  • Drilling rig radio operator
  • Emergency medical dispatcher
  • Emergency services dispatcher
  • Emergency vehicle dispatcher
  • Fire alarm operator
  • Fire department dispatcher
  • Gas service crew dispatcher
  • Highway radio-telephone operator
  • Inbound/outbound freight co-ordinator
  • Mail service dispatcher
  • Maintenance services dispatcher
  • Marine radio operator - military
  • Mine dispatcher
  • Mobile equipment dispatcher
  • Mobile-support equipment operators dispatcher - military
  • Monitoring station operator
  • Motor vehicle dispatcher
  • Newspaper dispatcher
  • Oil well service dispatcher
  • Pilot services dispatcher
  • Plant dispatcher
  • Police department dispatcher
  • Protective signal operator
  • Radio dispatcher
  • Radio officer - military
  • Radio operator
  • Radio operator - military
  • Radio operator, drilling rig
  • Radio operator, marine - military
  • Radio operator, sea - military
  • Radio-telephone operator
  • Radio-telephone operator, highways
  • Sea radio operator - military
  • Service dispatcher
  • Taxi dispatcher
  • Telecommunications operator
  • Tow truck dispatcher
  • Troubleshooting services dispatcher
  • Truck dispatcher
  • Tugboat dispatcher
  • Utilities maintenance crew dispatcher
  • Water service dispatcher
  • Yard clerk
  • 911 dispatcher
  • Alarm system dispatcher
  • Ambulance dispatcher
  • Emergency vehicle dispatcher
  • Inbound/outbound freight co-ordinator
  • Mobile equipment dispatcher
  • Radio operator
  • Radio operator - military
  • Taxi dispatcher
  • Tow truck dispatcher
  • Truck dispatcher
  • Utilities maintenance crew dispatcher

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Dispatchers perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Receive requests for emergency assistance or service and contact ambulances, police and fire departments, tow-trucks, and utility crews
    • Process and transmit information and instructions to co-ordinate the activities of vehicle operators, crews and equipment using a variety of computer-aided communications and dispatching equipment
    • Dispatch personnel according to written schedules and work orders, or as required by emergency situations
    • Advise vehicle operators of route and traffic problems such as construction, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, weight and size restrictions and other information
    • Monitor personnel workloads and locations
    • Maintain operator work records using computerized or manual methods and ensure time sheets and payroll summaries are completed accurately
    • Maintain computer and manual records of mileage, fuel use, repairs and other expenses, and generate reports.
  • Radio operators perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Operate radio equipment to communicate with ships, aircraft, mining crews, offshore oil rigs, logging camps and other remote operations
    • Operate and assist in the maintenance of fixed, air transportable, mobile and naval communications equipment in the Canadian armed forces.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • Police and emergency dispatchers are required to complete formal on-the-job training. Other dispatchers usually undergo some informal on-the-job training.
  • Radio operators and police and emergency dispatchers usually require provincial radio operator's certificates.

Additional information

    Exclusions

    Breakdown summary

    Broad occupational category
    1 – Business, Finance and Administration Occupations
    Skill level
    C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training.
    Major group
    14 – Clerical Occupations
    Minor group
    147 – Recording, Scheduling and Distributing Occupations
    Version
    NOC 2006 Version 1.0