Transport Planner

ASCO - Workforce Solutions; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

ASCO - Workforce Solutions is seeking a Transport Planner to effectively plan, coordinate and optimise transport operations for timely, cost-effective goods movement. You will be the primary contact for clients and work with customers, vendors, drivers and the Transport Team to maintain safe and efficient operations.

The role focuses on planning, scheduling, reporting and continuous improvement, with responsibilities spanning data analysis, vendor liaison and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience with road transport legislation, drivers' hours and working time requirements.
• Previous experience in a similar operational planning role.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn new systems.
• Excellent communication skills and teamwork.
• Ability to stay focused under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and high customer service standards.
• Self-motivation with initiative and accountability.
• Ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, customers and vendors.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical reporting abilities.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Experience using a Transport Management System (TMS).
• Experience with data and reporting tools such as Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Act as the focal point for planning clients' transport requirements, supporting other Transport Planners as required.
• Attend operational calls, providing updates and information.
• Utilise the Transport Management System (TMS) to ensure efficient cargo collection and delivery.
• Create and recreate jobs and journeys from QMS inputs based on sailing times and vessel schedules.
• Liaise with vendors to confirm collection requirements and timings.
• Monitor collection times against plans and communicate delays.
• Ensure chargeable work is recorded accurately and invoiced correctly.
• Review Power BI reports to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Attend morning calls and cascade priorities to the Transport Team.
• Respond to general queries professionally and promptly.
• Monitor vehicle tracking to reduce inefficiencies and improve performance.
• Coordinate vehicles and trailers for inspections and MOTs, ensuring compliance.
• Support resource planning including vehicle allocation and trailer checks.
• Arrange distance work and process abnormal loads as required.
• Undertake ad-hoc duties to support the team.

Skills

Transport legislation

Operational planning

MS Office

Communication

Under pressure

Continuous improvement

Self-motivation

Relationship building

Attention to detail

Planning & organisation

TMS experience

Power BI

Job description

As a Transport Planner, you will be responsible for effectively planning, coordinating and optimising transport operations, ensuring the timely, cost-effective and compliant movement of goods. You will act as the primary point of contact for planning our clients' transportation requirements, working closely with customers, vendors, drivers and the wider Transport Team to ensure operations run safely and efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the focal point for planning clients' transport requirements, supporting other Transport Planners as required.
• Attend operational calls as required, providing relevant updates and information.
• Utilise the Transport Management System (TMS) effectively to ensure cargo is collected and delivered efficiently and accurately, in line with individual customer requirements.
• Create and recreate jobs and journeys from pending materials pushed through from QMS, based on sailing times, ensuring maximum efficiency without impacting vessel schedules.
• Liaise with vendors to confirm collection requirements, ensuring cargo matches collection details and agreeing timings and loading sequences.
• Monitor collection times against scheduled work plans and communicate any late arrivals to vendors and shipping teams.
• Ensure all chargeable work is entered accurately and validate chargeable activity prior to invoicing, including hours to be billed.
• Review Power BI reports to identify trends, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Attend morning calls as required, providing updates on priorities, transport resources and other relevant operational information, and cascade information to the Transport Team.
• Respond to general queries in a timely and professional manner.
• Monitor vehicle tracking systems to identify and reduce inefficiencies and improve operational performance.
• Coordinate vehicles and trailers required for inspections and MOTs, ensuring compliance with Operator Licence obligations and liaising with garages in advance where any supply issues are identified.
• Support resource planning, including vehicle allocation, daily trailer checks and trailer billing.
• Arrange distance work and process abnormal loads, supporting Operations where required.
• Undertake ad-hoc duties as required to support the wider Transport Team.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Experience and knowledge of road transport legislation, including drivers' hours and working time requirements.
• Previous experience in a similar operational planning role.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, with the ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to remain focused and effective under pressure, adapting to short timescales and changing priorities.
• A solutions-focused approach, with a commitment to achieving high standards of performance and customer service.
• A strong focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative, accountability and ownership.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, vendors and other stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail with strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Previous experience using a Transport Management System (TMS).
• Experience working with data and reporting tools such as Power BI.

Training & Development

You will be required to complete mandatory company and site training, including:

• Company HR and HSSEQ Induction
• Site Induction
• Equality & Diversity
• Anti-Bullying
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption
• Modern Slavery
• Cyber Security

You will be expected to actively support a culture of continuous improvement by:

• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the business.
• Engaging with continuous improvement training.
• Contributing to the development of a continuous improvement and LEAN culture within the team.
• Embracing LEAN thinking and 2-Second Lean principles.
• Identifying and sharing improvement ideas with your team and line manager.
• Implementing agreed improvement initiatives.
• Participating in continuous improvement projects and following management direction.
• Delivering agreed improvement targets and action plans.