Transport Planner

Transport Planner

Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
Salary: £35,000–£37,000 per annum DOE
Hours: 40 hours per week, working shifts within 06:00–18:00
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Overtime: Additional hours/weekend overtime paid

We are recruiting an experienced Transport Planner to join a well-established, family-run transport and logistics operation based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

This is a hands-on planning position within a busy general haulage operation, where you'll take responsibility for planning vehicles and drivers across the UK while ensuring fleet utilisation, customer service and transport compliance remain at a high standard.

You'll need to be comfortable making decisions in a fast-moving environment where plans can change quickly due to traffic, driver availability, additional collections, breakdowns and changing customer requirements.

The Role

As Transport Planner, your responsibilities will include:

* Planning and coordinating daily and weekly vehicle movements across the UK

* Allocating drivers, vehicles and loads effectively

* Maximising vehicle utilisation and reducing unnecessary empty running

* Planning collections, deliveries and backloads

* Monitoring live transport movements throughout the day

* Replanning in response to delays, breakdowns, driver availability and changing customer requirements

* Communicating directly with drivers regarding routes, collections and deliveries

* Liaising with customers, warehouses, depots and subcontractors

* Coordinating subcontractors where required to maintain service

* Monitoring drivers' hours and vehicle availability

What We're Looking For

You will need proven transport planning experience within a busy HGV transport environment.

We're particularly interested in candidates with experience within:

General haulage

National distribution

Pallet networks

Multi-drop operations

Full and part-load transport

Own-fleet HGV operations

You should also have:

* Experience planning and allocating HGV drivers and vehicles

* Good knowledge of the UK road network

* Understanding of Drivers' Hours and Working Time Directive

* Strong geographical knowledge

* Good IT skills

* Experience using a Transport Management System

* Excellent communication and organisation skills

* The ability to think quickly and replan under pressure

Hours & Benefits

* £35,000–£37,000 per annum DOE

* 40-hour working week

* Shift patterns operating within 06:00–18:00

* Paid overtime available for additional/weekend hours

* 20 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

* Employer pension contribution

* On-site parking

* Training and development

* Genuine long-term career progression

* Permanent position within a stable, growing transport business

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Transport Planner who enjoys being involved in the day-to-day operation rather than simply monitoring a plan.

Apply today with your CV for immediate consideration