# Van three has broken down

“Van three has broken down” is a dispatcher job simulation on FinderK. You work at Lockgate Couriers, an original fictional company, and complete 3 assignments in about 50 minutes. It is for anyone who wants to practice dispatcher work. No previous work experience is required.

- Role: Dispatcher
- Industry: Logistics dispatch
- Career: Supply chain and logistics (https://finderk.com/careers/supply-chain-and-logistics)
- Level: Early career
- Time: About 50 minutes, 3 assignments
- Access: Included in Plus
- Created by: FinderK
- Work tools: Mail, Office documents and spreadsheets, Tables, Chat
- Page: https://finderk.com/simulations/van-three-has-broken-down
- Last updated: 2026-10-10

## Summary

A van has broken down with nine parcels, including medicines, funeral flowers and lab samples. Reassign them within three drivers' hours, decide what moves to tomorrow, and keep the customers who will wait informed.

## Full brief

You are the afternoon dispatcher at a city courier. A van has broken down at lunchtime with nine parcels still on board. You reassign them to three drivers using the added time each would take, the deadlines and the drivers' hours rules, putting the critical items first. Then you decide with your manager whether to pay for a subcontractor van or move the parcels that can wait, and you tell the customers whose parcels will be late. Automated checks confirm your counts and saved work; your judgement is reviewed against the standard for the role.

## What is Lockgate Couriers?

Lockgate Couriers is a fictional same day and next day courier in Birmingham with eleven vans. It delivers for pharmacies, florists, laboratories, businesses and online shops, under service terms that promise delivery by the deadline on each booking. This case runs on Tuesday 17 November 2026, from 12:40.

## Who do you play?

You are the dispatcher in the Operations team. You plan and change drivers' routes during the day. You may reassign parcels among Lockgate drivers within their spare time and space and the hours rules, and move next day parcels to the next morning with notice to the customer. You may not move same day parcels to tomorrow, book a subcontractor van or ask a driver to break the hours rules. Gemma approves subcontractors.

## What will you do?

1. 1. Reassign van 3's parcels (20 minutes)
2. 2. Recommend: subcontractor or tomorrow (15 minutes)
3. 3. Tell the customers who will wait (15 minutes)

## Which skills will you practice?

- Reassign work by priority within time and hours limits
- Weigh a cost against a service promise
- Tell customers about delays early and honestly
- Escalate what needs a manager's approval

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does “Van three has broken down” take?

About 50 minutes, across 3 assignments. When the time is up, you get 10 minutes to round up and submit. Pausing stops the clock.

### Is “Van three has broken down” free?

No. It is included in FinderK Plus. With a free account you can also do it without grading.

### Do I need dispatcher experience?

No. No previous work experience is required. The listed level is early career.

### What do I get when I finish?

You get feedback on each assignment you submit. Completing all required assignments earns a completion certificate. It records participation and is not professional accreditation.

### Is Lockgate Couriers a real company?

No. Lockgate Couriers is an original fictional company made for practice. Its coworkers may make mistakes, so check their suggestions against the evidence.