Transport Planner

Brook Street Recruitment is delighted to be recruiting on behalf of our client, a well-established, family-run logistics business based in Ballymena. Our client is looking for an organised and proactive Transport Planner to join a busy and friendly transport team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with transport planning or logistics experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.

You’ll play a vital role in ensuring deliveries and collections run smoothly across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, while building strong relationships with drivers, customers and colleagues. If you’re a confident communicator, enjoy solving problems and thrive under pressure, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

About the Role

As a Transport Planner, you’ll coordinate the daily movement of vehicles, trailers and drivers to deliver outstanding service to customers while maximising fleet efficiency. You’ll be at the heart of the operation, responding to changing priorities, supporting drivers and ensuring transport plans are delivered safely, efficiently and on time. Working closely with the wider operations team, you’ll help maintain a seamless transport service while identifying opportunities to improve planning and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate daily delivery and collection schedules across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
• Allocate work effectively across drivers, vehicles and trailers to maximise fleet utilisation.
• Maintain regular communication with drivers, providing clear instructions, operational support and updates throughout the day.
• Monitor live transport movements, responding quickly to delays, route changes, vehicle issues and customer requests.
• Build strong relationships with customers by providing timely updates and resolving transport queries professionally.
• Accurately enter and maintain transport information, rates, ferry bookings and operational data within Qargo, transport management systems, customer portals and internal planning systems.
• Plan ahead by reviewing upcoming workloads and working with customers to maximise available vehicle capacity.
• Work collaboratively with Distribution, the garage and other departments to ensure a smooth and coordinated transport operation.
• Liaise with the workshop regarding vehicle servicing, PMIs, brake testing, PSV requirements and equipment availability.
• Manage ferry bookings efficiently, ensuring amendments and cancellations are processed promptly.
• Support operational KPI reporting and contribute to continuous improvements across the planning function.
• Ensure all transport plans comply with Driver's Hours legislation, tachograph regulations and the Working Time Directive.
• Respond promptly to emails and operational queries, keeping customers, drivers and colleagues informed throughout the day.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is organised, customer-focused and enjoys working in a dynamic logistics environment. Ideally, you’ll have:

• Previous experience in transport planning, fleet coordination or a similar logistics role.
• Good knowledge of UK and Ireland geography and an understanding of time-critical transport operations.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong communication skills and confidence dealing with drivers, customers and internal teams.
• A working knowledge of Driver's Hours legislation, tachograph regulations and the Working Time Directive (desirable).
• Experience using Transport Management Systems (such as Qargo), tracking systems and customer portals.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Microsoft Teams.
• A Transport Manager CPC qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

What's on Offer

Joining this successful family-run business means becoming part of a supportive team where your contribution is valued and your career can continue to grow. Benefits include:

• Competitive salary (negotiable depending on experience and background)
• Company pension
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee discount scheme
• On-site parking
• Ongoing training and career development opportunities
• A supportive, collaborative working environment
• Long-term career prospects within a growing logistics business

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