Jobs › First Student

Dispatcher

First Student · Chicago, IL · $23.00–$25.00 an hour · Part time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at First Student

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you coached someone who wasn't meeting expectations.

What they are checking: Whether they can counsel drivers and monitors respectfully and clearly, which the role requires.

Tell me about your three to five years of dispatch or operations experience. What was the hardest part?

What they are checking: Whether they have real experience handling the pressure of live operations.

You may need to drive a backup route. How do you feel about that part of the job?

What they are checking: Whether they are flexible and willing to step in when the operation needs it.

What would you do

It's 6:30am and three drivers just called out sick. Walk me through how you cover the routes.

What they are checking: Whether they can solve staffing gaps fast so students still get to school on time.

A school district contact calls upset that a bus has been late every day this week. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage a key customer relationship and find the real cause of the delays.

A driver radios that a student was left at the wrong stop. What do you do right away?

What they are checking: Whether they act fast to locate and secure the child, contact the right people, and document it.

A driver complains that their route is unfair compared to others. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they listen, handle complaints fairly, and escalate to the operations supervisor when needed.

About the work

How do you manage heavy phone and radio traffic at the same time without missing something important?

What they are checking: Whether they can multitask and prioritize safety-related calls during busy periods.

How do you decide which routes to combine or reassign when you're short-staffed?

What they are checking: Whether they think about timing, distance, and student needs when reshaping routes.

What experience do you have with charter scheduling, billing, or payroll?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle the administrative tasks that come with this dispatch role.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at First Student from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by First Student.

At First Student, our Dispatchers are a constant reflection of our company's commitment to safety and customer service. The Dispatcher is responsible for dispatching all buses, ensuring on-time performance of routes, and counseling drivers and monitors on front line. At First Student, we are proud to offer: • Schedule: Part-Time, shifts covering our PM/overnight team • Pay: $23.00-25.00/hr, based upon experience • Tremendous Career Advancement Opportunities due to a strong presence across North America • Positive and rewarding work environment Dispatcher Responsibilities: • Oversees all routes and scheduling of buses • Counsels and coaches drivers and monitors • Handles heavy phone and radio traffic • Takes all scheduling and driver complaints, report to Operations Supervisor/Contract Manager • Serves as primary communication liaison with major contracted customer • May handle charter reservations, billing, or driver payroll • Provides solutions to drop-off and pick-up problems • Handle back-up driver duties or perform miscellaneous clerical duties as needed • Completes assignment of special projects • Assists with supervision of day-to-day operations Dispatcher Experience and Skills Required: • 3-5 years experience • High school diploma or equivalent • Basic knowledge of radio dispatch equipment • Excellent communication and customer service skills • Ability to deliver under time constraints and deadlines • Previous terminal operations, dispatch, or driver experience • Computer literate • Subject to DOT drug testing and physical. DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason. First Students commitment to putting our customers first, dedication to safety, and an ambition to deliver dependable transportation makes for a working environment you'll love. As a huge company with 120,000 staff and over 2.5 billion customers worldwide, you'll also enjoy security, a brilliant future, and excellent training. Apply today to join our team! We aspire to have a culture where all people are First. We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce therefore 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. For candidates applying to positions in San Francisco or Los Angeles California, First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance or Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance. First is an equal opportunity employer and by doing so we will sustain and promote an inclusive culture that supports future growth for all." Language Requirement This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English. 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 .

Apply at First Student

More dispatcher roles