Transport Planner

Job Specification: Transport Planner

Salary: Up to £42,000 per annum
Hours: 50 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, with one Saturday worked in every four-week rota
On-Call: One week of on-call duties on a rota
Contract: Full-time, permanent

Job Purpose

We are looking for an experienced, organised and proactive Transport Planner to join our busy transport operation. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and coordinating daily transport activities, maximising fleet utilisation, managing driver resources and ensuring deliveries and collections are completed safely, efficiently and on time.

The ideal candidate will have previous transport planning experience, strong geographical knowledge and the ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate daily transport schedules, collections and deliveries to meet customer requirements.
• Allocate vehicles, drivers and loads efficiently to maximise fleet utilisation and minimise operating costs.
• Produce effective route plans, taking into consideration delivery priorities, vehicle capacity, driver availability and legal driving hours.
• Monitor daily transport operations and respond promptly to delays, breakdowns, cancellations and other operational issues.
• Communicate effectively with drivers, customers, warehouse teams, traffic office colleagues and management.
• Provide customers with accurate delivery updates and resolve transport-related queries professionally.
• Ensure compliance with drivers' hours, tachograph regulations, Working Time Regulations, health and safety requirements and relevant transport legislation.
• Maintain accurate transport records and update the Transport Management System (TMS).
• Liaise with the maintenance department to ensure vehicle and trailer availability.
• Monitor operational performance, service levels and transport costs, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support driver briefings, operational handovers and the coordination of resources during busy periods.
• Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota, providing operational support and resolving urgent transport issues when required.
• Provide weekend cover as part of the agreed rota, including one Saturday in every four weeks.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties required to support the efficient running of the transport operation.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in a Transport Planner or Transport Coordinator role.
• Good understanding of transport operations, vehicle scheduling and route planning.
• Knowledge of drivers' hours, tachograph regulations and transport compliance.
• Strong geographical knowledge and an understanding of UK road networks.
• Excellent communication, organisation and time-management skills.
• Confident using transport planning software, TMS platforms and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to prioritise workloads, solve problems and make effective decisions under pressure.
• A flexible, reliable and customer-focused approach.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a transport team.
• Willingness to participate in the agreed on-call and Saturday working rota.

Working Hours and Rota

The position involves a 50-hour working week , with one Saturday worked in every four weeks and one week of on-call responsibility on a rotating basis.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working flexibly to meet operational requirements and providing appropriate support outside normal working hours during their allocated on-call week.

The employer should confirm the normal start and finish times, break arrangements, Saturday hours, on-call response expectations and any additional payment or time off in lieu arrangements.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of up to £42,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Full-time, permanent employment.
• A varied role within a busy transport operation.
• The opportunity to contribute to operational efficiency and service improvements.
• Supportive working environment and opportunities for professional development.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be dependable, well organised and commercially aware, with a practical approach to problem-solving. They will demonstrate initiative, maintain high standards of customer service and remain calm when managing competing operational priorities.

Application Process

Candidates should submit their CV outlining their relevant transport planning experience, operational knowledge and suitability for the role. </p

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