General Haulage Transport Planner

We are seeking an experienced and capable Transport Planner to join our six-person General Haulage planning team, supporting the effective planning of our daily UK transport operation.

The primary focus of the role is planning and consolidating freight into efficient, achievable and commercially effective delivery routes for the following day(s). This requires strong geographical knowledge and the ability to consider delivery requirements, freight profiles, vehicle capacity, route efficiency, Drivers' Hours, tachograph rules and Working Time Directive.

Working as part of the wider planning team, you will also support collections, driver and vehicle allocation, live operational issues, customer requirements and replanning when required.

Previous General Haulage planning experience is important, alongside excellent IT capability, logical thinking, commercial awareness and the ability to make good planning decisions at pace. 

Responsibilities 

• Plan and consolidate freight into efficient, achievable and commercially effective delivery routes for the following day(s)
• Maximise vehicle utilisation and load fill by combining freight intelligently, considering geography, vehicle capacity, delivery requirements and operational efficiency
• Ensure transport plans are achievable and compliant with Drivers’ Hours, tachograph rules and Working Time Directive requirements
• Work closely with the Collection Planner, driver and vehicle allocation, routing support and wider Transport team to ensure plans are coordinated effectively
• Monitor changing freight volumes and customer requirements, adapting and replanning routes where required
• Support the live Transport operation when required, including driver availability, vehicle issues, breakdowns, customer queries and other operational challenges
• Communicate effectively with drivers, customers, Goods in Transit (Warehouse) and internal teams to resolve issues and ensure the successful execution of transport plans
• Identify opportunities to improve route efficiency, vehicle utilisation, consolidation and overall commercial performance
• Maintain accurate administration and take ownership of operational issues through to resolution 

Skills Required

• Excellent IT and systems capability, able to navigate multiple systems quickly, accurately and confidently
• Strong General Haulage planning experience, with the ability to build efficient and achievable delivery routes
• Excellent UK geographical knowledge, including vehicle capacities and multi-drop routing
• Strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make effective decisions quickly
• Good working knowledge of Drivers Hours, tachograph rules and Working Time Directive requirements
• Strong administration and organisation skills, with excellent attention to detail and accuracy 

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised, accurate and dependable, with a strong sense of personal responsibility
• Calm and decisive within a fast-moving Transport environment
• Proactive and commercially minded, always looking for better and more efficient ways to plan
• A natural problem-solver who takes ownership of issues through to resolution
• Strong team player, able to work effectively across the wider Transport operation
• Flexible and adaptable when volumes, priorities and operational requirements change 

Why Join Browns Distribution

Browns Distribution is a long-established, family-owned Staffordshire transport and logistics business. We operate up to 75 vehicles and 120 trailers, alongside 80,000 sq. ft. of warehousing with capacity for upwards of 12,000 pallets.

You will join a modern, professional and supportive Transport environment with dual-monitor workstations, laptop, cloud-based systems and our own cutting-edge, in-house developed Transport Management System. 

As a Transport Planner, you will benefit from

• A modern, professional and supportive Transport office environment
• High-quality workstation with dual monitors and laptop
• Cloud-based technology across transport planning, communications and operational management
• Exposure to a substantial and varied General Haulage operation
• Supportive line management with structured training and development
• Genuine opportunities to progress within Transport or side-step into other areas of our wider logistics operation 

Benefits

• 34 days annual holiday entitlement, including statutory bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday
• Structured training and ongoing professional development
• Opportunity to develop and progress within a growing Transport operation
• Long-term career development opportunities within Browns Distribution 

Interested? Let's talk!

Send us your CV or give us a call on 01782 525300 and we'll take it from there.