Dispatcher (Freight & Logistics)

Company: Randstad Canada (Supporting a top-tier Logistics leader)

Location: Northwest Edmonton, AB (Near St. Albert Trail & Yellowhead Trail)

Pay: $24.00 – $29.00 per hour

Employment Type: 2-Month Contract (Immediate Start)

Shift: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Clean Professional Job Summary

Randstad Canada is recruiting an experienced Logistics Dispatcher for a high-intensity, 2-month contract with an industry-leading transportation firm in Northwest Edmonton. This role is the “nerve center” of the facility’s midday and evening operations, where you will manage the delicate balance between driver support and customer expectations. You will be responsible for the real-time monitoring of a high-volume fleet, ensuring that every driver has the tools—from tractor keys to access codes—needed for a successful trip. This position requires a professional who can navigate specialized telematics software like XRS while simultaneously handling CSR duties and adjusting routes for Edmonton’s unpredictable traffic and weather.

Key Responsibilities

Driver & Trip Support: Act as the primary point of contact for drivers; providing trip sheets, site access codes, trip numbers, and managing tractor key distribution.
Real-Time Monitoring: Utilize XRS and Back Office logistics software to actively track driver progress and ensure adherence to delivery schedules.
Data Integrity: Process “A1 live updates” and ensure all Trip Sheets are accurately completed to maintain a transparent audit trail of fleet movement.
Customer Service (CSR): Transition into evening CSR duties, responding to customer inquiries and providing professional updates on shipment status.
Agile Coordination: Collaborate with the Senior Planner to integrate “daily add-on” trips and communicate route changes to drivers in response to traffic or weather delays.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Mandatory Experience: 6 months to 1 year of recent, hands-on freight dispatching experience. (Candidates without freight dispatching experience will not be contacted).
Technical Savvy: Proficiency in MS Office and experience with logistics/telematics platforms (XRS, Back Office, or similar) is a significant asset.
Geography: Strong working knowledge of the City of Edmonton (major routes, industrial zones, and traffic patterns) to facilitate effective routing.
High Volume Readiness: Proven ability to manage a high volume of calls and priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Schedule Alignment: Ability to commit to the 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM shift for the full 2-month duration.

About the Opportunity: Northwest Industrial Hub

Located strategically near Highway 16 (Yellowhead Trail) and St. Albert Trail, this hub is part of Edmonton’s most vital logistics corridor. The contract period includes paid holidays on December 25th, 26th, and January 1st, and provides a direct reporting line to a collaborative Operations Manager known for an inclusive leadership style.

Market & Industry Context: Edmonton Logistics (2026)

As of March 2026, Edmonton has matured into North America’s premier northern logistics gateway, with the Northwest industrial zone serving as the primary staging ground for freight moving toward the Arctic and Western ports.

Industry Trends & Data:

The “Mid-Shift” Advantage: The 10 AM – 6 PM shift is strategically designed in 2026 to capture the “handover” window where morning deliveries conclude and evening long-haul routes begin.
Telematics Evolution: By 2026, software like XRS has integrated AI-driven predictive traffic modeling. Dispatchers who can interpret these “predictive delays” are seeing higher demand in the Edmonton contract market.
Contract Wage Growth: The $24–$29/hr bracket represents a 7% increase over 2024 rates for temporary dispatch roles, reflecting the specialized nature of freight-specific experience in a tight labor market.
Weather Resilience: With 2026 seeing increased climate volatility, dispatchers are now the primary “Safety Leads,” responsible for enforcing “No-Go” protocols during extreme Alberta winter storms.

Career Growth & Progression Path

Senior Logistics Planner: Move from real-time dispatching into long-term route optimization and carrier negotiations.
Operations Supervisor: Transition into a permanent leadership role overseeing the entire dispatch and warehouse team.
Supply Chain Coordinator: Use your “on-the-road” experience to manage the broader movement of goods for major manufacturers.
Freight Broker: Leverage your knowledge of carrier operations and customer service to move into the high-commission world of freight brokerage.

Interview Preparation Insights

The “XRS” Walkthrough: Be prepared to describe exactly how you used telematics software in your previous role. If you haven’t used XRS specifically, explain the logic of the platform you did use.
Edmonton Geography Quiz: You may be asked how you would route a driver from the Yellowhead to Ellerslie during peak construction. Know your “back routes” and major arteries.
Conflict Resolution: How do you handle a driver who is refusing a trip or a customer who is upset about a weather-related delay? Focus on solutions, safety, and professional communication.
Multitasking Evidence: Prepare an example of a time you had to manage a complex “add-on” while three other drivers were calling for access codes.

Perks & Benefits (Contractor via Randstad)

Resume Builder: Add a “Logistics Leader” to your professional history via an industry-leading company.
Strategic Shift: Enjoy a mid-day schedule that avoids the worst of the 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM rush hour traffic.
Paid Holidays: Guaranteed days off during the December and January holiday season.

Supportive Culture: Work in an environment that values new insights and collaborative problem-solving.

Category	Details & Specifications
Employer	Randstad (Contracting for a Logistics Leader)
Duration	2-Month Contract
Location	Northwest Edmonton (Near St. Albert Trail & Yellowhead)
Pay Rate	$25.00 – $30.00 / hour
Shift	Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Software	Back Office, XRS (Omnitracs)

Role Breakdown: High-Volume Operational Support

This is a “boots-on-the-ground” logistics role focused on the real-time execution of freight movements. You aren’t just scheduling; you are the primary point of contact for drivers currently on the road.

Driver Lifecycle Management: Handing out trip sheets, tractor keys, and access codes. You are the “pit crew” ensuring drivers have every physical and digital tool needed to start their route.
Real-Time Monitoring: Using XRS (Omnitracs) telematics to track driver progress. You will monitor for delays, HOS (Hours of Service) compliance, and route deviations.
Hybrid CSR Duties: In the evening portion of your shift, you pivot to Customer Service, answering client inquiries regarding ETA and shipment status.
Dynamic Coordination: Responding to “A1 live updates”—essentially processing real-time changes to active trips to ensure the “Senior Planner’s” daily strategy is executed despite traffic or weather.

2026 Edmonton Logistics & Infrastructure Insights

The Northwest Edmonton industrial zone is the city’s logistics heart, serving as the gateway to Northern Alberta and the B.C. interior.

The Intersection of Power: Being located near St. Albert Trail and the Yellowhead (Hwy 16) means you are managing drivers navigating some of the city’s heaviest commercial traffic. Knowledge of 2026 construction patterns on the Yellowhead is critical for accurate routing.
Winter Operations: Given the 2-month contract (spanning the winter holiday period), you will be dispatching during Edmonton’s most volatile weather. Your ability to reroute around Anthony Henday accidents or “Black Friday” retail congestion is a core requirement.
2026 Wage Outlook: A rate of $30/hr for a contract dispatcher is at the high end of the Edmonton market. This reflects the “high-volume” intensity and the immediate expertise required to hit the ground running without a long training period.
XRS/Telematics Trend: By 2026, most major carriers have integrated ELD (Electronic Logging Device) data directly into their dispatch software. Proficiency in XRS means you understand how to read driver logs to ensure they don’t exceed their legal driving limits.

Essential Qualifications & Technical Skills

“Hands-On” Experience: The employer explicitly requires 6 months to 1 year of recent freight experience. They are looking for someone who understands the “lingo” (e.g., LTL vs. TL, bill of lading, backhauls).
Software Fluency: Familiarity with Back Office and XRS is a major asset. These systems handle the “breadcrumb” tracking of the fleet.
Local Geography: You must know Edmonton’s industrial sectors (e.g., Winterburn, Northwest, Acheson) to effectively guide drivers through “last-mile” delivery challenges.

Total Rewards & Environment

Work-Life Balance: The 10 AM – 6 PM shift is rare in dispatching (which is often 24/7), making it ideal for those who want a standard workday while still supporting peak “afternoon outbound” operations.
Holiday Perks: The contract guarantees the major winter holidays (Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1) off, which is a significant benefit in the transportation industry.
Resume Builder: Randstad is placing this role with an “industry leader.” Success in this 2-month “sprint” often leads to permanent offers or high-priority consideration for future enterprise-level contracts.

Application Insider Tips

Quantify Your Volume: On your resume, specify the fleet size you’ve managed (e.g., “Dispatched for a fleet of 45 Class 1 Drivers in a high-volume LTL environment”).
Highlight “Yellowhead” Knowledge: In the interview, mention your familiarity with Northwest Edmonton’s specific traffic bottlenecks. It proves you have the “local knowledge” they value.
Immediate Availability: Because this is a short-term contract, being able to start “immediately” is your strongest selling point.

To apply for this job please visit www.randstad.com.