Also called: Fleet Dispatcher, Barge Scheduler
Schedules which towboats move which barges up and down the river system.
A barge dispatcher tracks hundreds of barges on a screen, assigns tows, coordinates with grain elevators and terminals, and adjusts plans when locks close or rivers flood.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. On-the-job training; many start on the boats.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS 2025-35 projection band for SOC 43-5032: Decline (-1% or lower).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Routing and scheduling software is taking over tow planning; fewer dispatchers will handle the exceptions.
Classes: Computer applications, Geography, Business math.
Official data: O*NET occupation 43-5032.
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