What is the first step before talking on the radio?

Listening before speaking on the radio is crucial for ensuring effective communication. By checking to see if the channel is already in use, you avoid interrupting another conversation, which maintains the flow of communication and prevents confusion. This practice also allows you to assess if any relevant ongoing discussions might affect your message or require you to wait for an appropriate moment to transmit. It's an important part of radio protocol that helps in managing the shared communication space effectively.

Ensuring that the channel is clear helps establish a respectful and orderly exchange of information, which is essential in a dispatching environment where accurate and timely communication is key to operational safety and efficiency.