Erkin Kozhaliev, the director of Supreme Dispatch, spoke about how remote work is developing in Kyrgyzstan and what is needed to start a career in this field.
According to Kozhaliev, the first to work in the trucking business among Central Asian countries were migrants from Uzbekistan, who also launched remote call centers for cargo support.
“In Kyrgyzstan, especially in Osh, similar companies began to open due to the proximity to Uzbekistan. However, this business is now actively developing in Bishkek as well,” he added.
What is dispatch work?
Dispatchers work around the clock, monitoring cargo, maintaining documentation in accordance with American laws, and negotiating with freight brokers.The process usually starts with opening a trucking company in the USA, where there is a front office and transportation. To optimize costs, operational processes can be organized remotely, which became especially relevant after the pandemic.
— What services does your company offer in the labor market?
— We provide outsourcing, including financial reporting and operational processes that comply with American laws for various types of cargo. Our work includes document processing and cargo support 24/7, as well as language support. In 2021, we established the Kyrgyz-American Association for the Development of Outsourcing Services in Logistics to help members improve their skills and qualifications. Our team started with four people and two computers.
— How do you find employees?
— We find candidates in language courses and universities, but initially, we searched among acquaintances. We train employees, and for this, knowledge of English and a desire to work in this field are necessary. Currently, our team consists of 30 people. Training takes 2-3 months, after which practice begins, during which language skills improve and familiarity with documentation processes is gained. After six months, a qualified employee can start earning.
— Do you offer online courses or real-time training?
— We organize one month of offline training and one month of internship, during which students learn about various types of trailers, their load capacity, and characteristics. It is important to know about non-standard cargo, refrigerated trucks, and flatbed trucks for building materials. We teach everything necessary for working as a dispatcher and plan to expand the program to include logistics, finance, and brokerage. The cost of training is 40,000 soms, which includes the internship. Practice shows the candidate's readiness for work and their communication skills.
If people come with a strong desire, they can start earning a decent salary within 2-3 months.The payment system is piecework, and experienced specialists earn a percentage of the delivery cost, which ranges from 1% to 1.8%. The market demands such personnel, and transportation company owners are actively looking for dispatchers willing to work abroad, even for 100-200 people.
If a person is ready to learn and work, there will always be offers for them.
It is important to remember that one must constantly develop and learn, as there is always a demand for striving for better in America.
— Can your employees try their luck in the USA?
— If they have qualifications, they can apply for a manager or supervisor position, and such opportunities exist. In some cases, visas may even be offered. Although it takes several years to study logistics in the USA, there is still a shortage of such specialists, so companies are looking for personnel worldwide. However, it should be noted that the work may be at night. Remote work allows ignoring location, but some firms require office presence. I, for example, started in 2020 exactly that way.
In the team, in addition to dispatchers, there are safety specialists who deal with safety issues, and fleet managers responsible for the technical condition of the fleet. If a truck breaks down, its driver cannot solve the problem on their own — intervention from the insurance company is necessary. If traffic rules are violated, safety specialists help resolve the conflict. They also manage the company's rating, which is important for orders, as there is a scoring system in America.
— How are specialists from Kyrgyzstan valued in this field?
— We cooperate with Central Asian companies, as well as trucking companies from Moldova and Poland. Our employees are valued for their communication skills and ability to explain in their native language. Dispatchers can assist with translation and problem-solving. The association and our Telegram channel, which has over 5,000 participants, facilitate successful operations by providing recommendations and information about brokers.
When a broker receives a request for cargo transportation, the company looks for a suitable truck. The dispatcher analyzes requests and negotiates with brokers about the price, making a decision on fulfilling the order. One of the most interesting cargoes I worked with was a Boeing engine, for which the delivery cost was $5 for 10 miles. But it is important to remember that the work requires high responsibility.
We plan to create a large call center that will operate at night for the USA and during the day for Kyrgyzstan, as night shifts are paid at double rates.
We train both men and women.
On November 14 at 1:00 PM, a forum will be held at the A Plus business center located at 243 Ch. Aitmatov Avenue, where experts from other countries will talk about working in the freight transportation sector. We invite everyone to learn the details of working as a dispatcher for American trucking companies.
Additional information:
- Instagram of Supreme Dispatch
- Instagram of the Kyrgyz-American Association for the Development of Logistics Services.
