About the Role
Frederick R Miller Ltd is looking for a proactive, organised and ambitious Traffic Office Assistant to join our busy transport operation.
This is much more than a general administration position.
Working closely with the Transport Manager and wider traffic team, you will be involved in the day-to-day running of our pallet network operation, including monitoring network performance, supporting drivers, dealing with customers and network depots, assisting with collection planning and developing your knowledge of traffic planning.
We are looking for someone who wants to understand how the whole operation works, take ownership of their responsibilities and, over time, make the role their own.
For the right person, this position offers genuine opportunities to develop within transport operations and take on greater responsibility as their knowledge and experience grow.
Key ResponsibilitiesNetwork KPI & Service Performance
- Monitor daily network KPIs, delivery performance and outstanding consignments.
- Identify consignments that may be at risk of service failure and take proactive action wherever possible.
- Investigate delivery and collection issues with other network depots.
- Monitor the progress of consignments throughout the network.
- Liaise with customers and depots regarding delays, service issues and outstanding deliveries.
- Maintain accurate operational and service records.
- Escalate significant or recurring service issues to the Transport Manager.
- Assist with identifying trends and areas where service performance can be improved.
Customer & Network Depot Communication
- Handle incoming telephone calls from customers, network depots and other operational contacts.
- Respond professionally and efficiently to delivery, collection and consignment queries.
- Provide accurate information and updates.
- Liaise directly with network depots to resolve delivery and collection problems.
- Take ownership of queries wherever possible and follow them through to resolution.
- Build effective working relationships with customers and network partners.
- Ensure important information is communicated promptly to the appropriate members of the team.
Driver Support & Debrief
- Carry out daily driver debriefs.
- Ensure relevant paperwork and operational information is completed and recorded accurately.
- Deal with driver queries and operational issues throughout the working day.
- Communicate collection requirements, delivery information and changes to drivers.
- Assist drivers with problems that arise while they are out on the road.
- Record and escalate issues raised by drivers where appropriate.
- Build positive working relationships with the driving team while maintaining professional operational standards.
Collection Planning
- Assist with the planning and allocation of daily customer collections.
- Monitor collection requirements throughout the day.
- Liaise with customers and drivers regarding collection arrangements and changes.
- Help ensure collections are allocated efficiently according to location, vehicle capacity and available resources.
- Respond to additional or changing collection requirements during the day.
- Assist in ensuring all planned collections are completed or appropriately managed.
Traffic Planning
As your knowledge and experience develop, you will assist the Transport Manager with increasingly detailed traffic planning responsibilities, including:
- Planning and allocating daily deliveries and collections.
- Developing strong geographical and route-planning knowledge.
- Helping allocate drivers and vehicles effectively.
- Assisting with maximising vehicle utilisation and available capacity.
- Understanding vehicle types, capacities and operational requirements.
- Monitoring routes and workloads throughout the day.
- Responding to changing operational circumstances and re-planning where necessary.
- Understanding how planning decisions affect service performance, vehicle utilisation and customer service.
- Developing the confidence to make sound day-to-day operational decisions, escalating where appropriate.
General Administration
- Accurate data entry across transport and network systems.
- Maintain transport records, paperwork and operational information.
- Update customer and consignment information where required.
- Assist with general traffic office administration.
- Produce or update operational information and reports as required.
- Support the Transport Manager and wider operational team with other reasonable duties.
Operational Development
The intention is for the successful candidate to develop beyond a purely administrative traffic office position.
You will be given the opportunity to build practical experience across:
Network Performance Driver Management Customer Service Collection Planning Traffic Planning Vehicle Utilisation Transport Administration
As your knowledge and confidence develop, you will be encouraged to take increasing ownership of areas of the day-to-day operation.
We want someone who is interested in learning why operational decisions are made, rather than simply being told what task to complete.
The long-term aim is to develop someone capable of recognising potential problems, assessing the available options and taking appropriate action with increasing independence.
What We're Looking For
Previous experience within transport, logistics, distribution or a traffic office would be beneficial, but attitude, ability and potential are equally important to us.
The successful candidate will:
- Be proactive and prepared to take ownership.
- Have a genuine interest in transport and logistics.
- Be able to think for themselves and use their initiative.
- Have a practical approach to problem solving.
- Be organised and able to prioritise effectively.
- Be comfortable managing several operational issues at the same time.
- Remain calm when priorities change or problems arise.
- Communicate confidently with drivers, customers and network depots.
- Have strong attention to detail.
- Be accurate when entering and interpreting information.
- Be confident using computers and willing to learn new systems.
- Have, or be willing to develop, good UK geographical knowledge.
- Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Be reliable and able to work to deadlines.
- Be willing to learn and develop.
- Hold a full UK driving licence.
What Will Make You Successful in This Role
Transport is a fast-moving environment and no two days are exactly the same.
We are looking for someone who sees a problem and starts looking for the solution.
You should be comfortable asking questions while you are learning, but equally willing to use your own judgement as your knowledge develops.
You will need to be able to recognise what is urgent, what can wait and what needs escalating.
Most importantly, we want someone who takes pride in their work, takes responsibility for their role and wants to become someone the operation can rely upon.
Training, Development & Progression
We want this position to develop with the person who takes it on.
You will receive hands-on experience of the day-to-day operation and have the opportunity to develop your knowledge of traffic and collection planning alongside the Transport Manager.
As your experience grows, we would expect you to become increasingly involved in operational decision-making and take greater ownership of areas of the traffic operation.
For someone who demonstrates the right attitude, ability and commitment, there will be genuine opportunities for increased responsibility and career progression within Frederick R Miller Ltd.
Potential development could include progression through traffic planning, senior operational and supervisory responsibilities as your experience and capabilities develop.
The Person We Want
You don't need to arrive knowing everything about transport.
You do need to arrive wanting to learn it.
We're looking for someone who doesn't just wait for the next instruction.
Someone who notices when something isn't right, asks the right questions and wants to understand how to fix it.
Someone who can build good relationships with drivers, customers and colleagues while still getting the job done.
And someone who, given the opportunity, wants to develop their knowledge, take on more responsibility and eventually put their own stamp on the role.
If you're looking for a position where you can learn a transport operation from the inside, develop practical planning experience and build a longer-term career within logistics, we'd like to hear from you.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £27,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
