Load Planner

Monarch Steel Company, Inc.; Decatur (AL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Match

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral bonus Program

Job summary

Monarch Steel Company, Inc. is seeking a Load Planner in Alabama to optimize freight movements and maximize equipment utilization. You will closely collaborate with drivers, customers, brokers, and operations to plan, dispatch, and track loads while maintaining profitability and service levels.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years in load planning or related roles, with knowledge of DOT regulations and Freight market analysis. Experience with flatbed freight is preferred.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of experience in load planning, dispatching, freight brokerage, or transportation operations.
• Experience in flatbed trucking preferred, or van/reefer.
• Strong knowledge of freight markets, rates, capacity, and lane pricing.
• Experience planning truck schedules and dispatching drivers.
• Proven ability to build customer or broker relationships.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and dispatch loads to drivers and owner-operators.
• Optimize routes and freight assignments to maximize revenue and efficiency.
• Coordinate pickups with customers, shippers, and receivers.
• Monitor movements and resolve service issues or delays.
• Ensure profitability through rate analysis and compliance with DOT/HOS.

Skills

Load planning

Dispatching

Freight brokerage

Transportation operations

Negotiation

Market analysis

DOT regulations

HOS compliance

Excel

TMS & dispatch software

Customer service

Communication

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business

Tools

TMS

Load boards

Dispatch software

Excel

Job description

Monarch Steel Company of Alabama, Inc., a division of American Consolidated Industries, is one of the country's largest providers of hot rolled, cold rolled, and galvanized steel products. Here at Monarch Steel of Alabama we receive steel coils, slit/blank/cut to length coils and ship to our customers. We pride ourselves on outstanding safety, quality, customer service, and most importantly our 1 - TEAM environment.

Monarch Steel Company of Alabama, Inc. has immediate full-time positions available!

We offer a competitive benefit package and the opportunity to work in a drug-free and safe work environment.

Benefits include:

• 401(k) with Company Match
• Retirement Plan
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident, Hospital Indemnity, & Critical Illness
• 50k Company paid Life AD&D Insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Referral bonus Program - up to $1000
• Steel Toe Subsidy
• Prescription Safety Glasses Allowance
• Vacation & Personal Time Off
• Holiday Pay - Includes a Floating Holiday
• Eligible for an Incentive Bonus - up to 10% of your monthly earnings, paid monthly.

Position Summary

The Load Planner is responsible for optimizing freight movements, maximizing equipment utilization, and ensuring timely delivery of customer shipments. This role works closely with drivers, customers, brokers, and operations teams to efficiently plan and dispatch loads while maintaining profitability, service levels, and compliance requirements. The ideal candidate will have experience in flatbed transportation, load planning, freight brokerage, or dispatch operations and possess strong negotiation and market analysis skills.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Embraces the 1 T.E.A.M. culture
• Plan, schedule, and dispatch loads to company drivers and owner-operators.
• Optimize routes and freight assignments to maximize revenue, reduce empty miles, and improve operational efficiency.
• Coordinate pickup and delivery appointments with customers, shippers, and receivers.
• Monitor freight movements and proactively resolve service issues, delays, or equipment challenges.
• Ensure freight rates with brokers, customers, and carriers are maximizing profitability.
• Analyze freight markets, lane opportunities, and rate trends to identify revenue-generating opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with drivers, customers, brokers, and carriers.
• Ensure compliance with DOT regulations, Hours of Service (HOS), and company policies.
• Track driver availability, equipment utilization, and capacity to support efficient planning.
• Communicate load details, route changes, and customer requirements clearly and accurately.
• Utilize transportation management systems (TMS), load boards, and dispatch software to manage daily operations.
• Collaborate with sales, operations, and customer service teams to meet customer expectations.
• Maintain accurate records of loads, rates, driver assignments, and operational metrics.
• Maximize truck utilization and profitability.
• Minimize empty miles and service failures.
• Maintain strong on-time pickup and delivery performance.
• Build profitable freight opportunities through market awareness.
• Provide exceptional service to customers and drivers while supporting company growth.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Although no direct reports, the position will provide focused guidance to organizational leadership and process teams, will serve on committees and special teams and perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Minimum 2-5 years of experience in load planning, dispatching, freight brokerage, or transportation operations.
• Experience in flatbed trucking preferred, but candidates with van or refrigerated (reefer) transportation experience will also be considered.
• Strong understanding of freight markets, freight rates, transportation capacity, and lane pricing.
• Experience planning truck schedules and dispatching drivers.
• Demonstrated success in building customer or broker relationships.
• Knowledge of DOT regulations, Hours of Service requirements, and transportation compliance.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and multitasking abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel.
• Experience with transportation management systems (TMS), load boards, and dispatch software.
• Experience managing flatbed freight, preferred.
• Existing relationships with freight brokers and carrier networks, preferred.
• Understanding of fuel surcharge calculations and transportation cost, preferred.
• Experience analyzing profitability by lane, shipment, customer, or equipment type, preferred.
• Familiarity with ELD systems and GPS tracking platforms, preferred.

Education Requirements

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field, preferred.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Load Planning & Optimization
• Driver Dispatch & Fleet Coordination
• Freight Market Analysis
• Customer Service & Relationship Management
• Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
• Time Management & Prioritization
• Transportation Compliance Knowledge
• Revenue & Margin Management
• Teamwork & Communication

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to medium.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee may need to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Note:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills associated with the position.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.