Transport Planner

Agrial Fresh Produce; Wigan; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Annual leave 25 days

Learning & Development

Salary finance schemes

On-site health nurse

Free physio

Employee discount platform

Job summary

Agrial Fresh Produce in Wigan is seeking a Transport Planner to organise route plans for articulated vehicles and ensure compliance with safety and food-safety standards. You will guide drivers, manage rosters, and keep precise records across TMS systems.

Join a market-leading team at our Wigan site, with 4 days on, 3 days off shifts and a competitive salary plus annual bonus consideration. You will contribute to efficient deliveries and strong customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years experience in transport planning, logistics or supply chain.
• Strong organisation and analytical skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and familiar with transport management systems (TMS).
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills with internal and external partners.
• Knowledge of UK/EU transport legislation, drivers hours, and tachograph rules.

Responsibilities

• Accurately route plan and schedule vehicles to meet times at sites.
• Provide instruction and guidance to drivers and agency workers as required.
• Create weekly driver rosters and assign runs.
• Debrief drivers, download driver cards, check PODs and paperwork.
• Maintain a structured daily driver costing sheet and stay within budget.
• Communicate with depots about delivery times and issues in advance.
• Maintain transport administration in the TMS and keep records up to date.
• Provide daily admin support to the Despatch team.
• Carry out daily handovers and support manager requests.

Skills

Transport planning

Organisation

Communication

Problem solving

Regulatory knowledge

Tools

Excel

TMS

Job description

Your main role will be to organise and plan routes for articulated vehicles in a methodical and cost effective way whilst maintaining compliance with transport regulations and company/ customer standards. You will always ensure these duties are completed in line with site rules, legal regulations and company procedures relating to all aspects of food safety, statutory health and safety and people management.

Responsibilities

• Accurately route plan and schedule vehicles in order to meet pre-agreed times into collection and delivery sites, including maintenance workshops in line with the planned maintenance schedule. Actively seek out backloads so there is no empty running.
• Provide instruction, support and guidance to drivers and agency workers as required, before and during their shift. Effectively track drivers using the relevant systems ensuring communication regarding delays/issues and any unauthorised routes/delays with drivers are escalated.
• Create weekly rota and assign drivers to allocated runs, ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Manage and implement solutions to adjustments or changes to routes, loads and / or drivers.
• Debrief drivers upon return to site, ensure driver cards are downloaded, POD's are captured and paperwork checked for accurate completion, note any discrepancies.
• Create and maintain a structured daily driver costing sheet that tracks all relevant expenses for drivers and ensures they stay in budget.
• Main customer satisfaction; communicate regarding in and out times of deliveries and collections ensuring that depots are notified of any issues in advance. Effectively resolve any issues that occur.
• Ensure accurate transport administration in accordance with procedure. Maintain up to date records in the Company's chosen transport management system (TMS).
• Provide daily administrative support to the Despatch team, ensuring smooth operations, accurate documentation and timely communication.
• Complete a daily handover for the following shift noting any issues or any information which will need to be handed over.
• Carry out reasonable requests made by your manager which are connected to your role and make use of your skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-3 years experience in transport planning, logistics or supply chain, ideally in the food manufacturing or FMCG sector.
• Strong organisation and analytical skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Proficient in Microsoft excel and familiar with transport management systems (TMS).
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with internal and external partners.
• Knowledge of UK/EU transport legislation, drivers hours, and tachograph rules.

Agrial Fresh Produce is one of three UK food manufacturing sites within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 17,500 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial.

Our Wigan site is a well-established business unit that processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's well-known retailers and restaurants. We are based on Martland Park Industrial Estate, which is ideal for travel on the M61, M6 and M62. The business has other operations in the UK, known commonly with our recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK's leading producers in the industry. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount! Agrial has operations across 11 countries, with 100 industrial sites, and a 2024 turnover of €7.1bn across 5 food divisions which comprise of Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it's not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation - Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

Next Steps

It's an exciting time to join our business as we look for new starters to join us to innovate in everything we do! We're looking for positive and driven people to join our professional team. If you have the skills or experience we are looking for, and want a fresh challenge we would love for you to join us on our journey!

Working hours & Pay

Working hours: 4 days on, 3 days off, 07:00- 17:00 Pay: Competitive, A competitive annual salary, inclusion in our annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you'd expect from a market leading business.

Benefits

• Life Assurance: 3x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Employee Assistance Programme and BUPA: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues, as well as access to BUPA Membership.
• Annual leave entitlement: 25 days annual leave per annum inclusive of UK Bank Holidays which increases with service, as well as the option to purchase up to 2 additional working weeks of holiday per annum.
• Learning and Development: Personalised induction and regular learning and development courses and schemes: From L2 to L7 Funded Apprenticeships, Leadership Development Programme, First-Aid and MHFA Training, and many more!
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers and access to salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, as well as access to a free physio and our on-site Occupational health nurse.