Transport Planner & Import Coordinator
UK Trade Furnishings Ltd - Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire
Salary
£35,000-£40,000 per year, depending on experience
Contract
Full-time, Permanent
Hours
Monday to Friday
Location
Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire
Vacancies
2 positions available
Reports to
Head of Logistics
About the role
UK Trade Furnishings Ltd is expanding its in-house transport and container operation and is recruiting two people into a combined planning and import-control role. This is a hands-on position covering daily HGV transport planning alongside customs, shipping-line and container administration.
You will help plan a growing mixed fleet of tractor units, skeletal and curtainsider trailers and 18-tonne rigid vehicles, while also managing imported containers through Felixstowe and London Gateway from documentation and customs clearance through to collection, delivery and empty return.
We are particularly interested in experienced Transport Planners, Traffic Planners, Container Planners, Import Coordinators and Freight Forwarding professionals. You do not need to be an expert in every part of the role from day one. If you are strong in transport planning and have some import/customs knowledge - or vice versa - we would still like to hear from you.
What you will be doing
- Producing and maintaining the daily transport plan for the in-house fleet.
- Allocating drivers, tractor units, skeletal and curtainsider trailers and 18-tonne rigid vehicles to work.
- Planning container collections from Felixstowe, London Gateway and other ports or depots as required.
- Planning customer deliveries and collections to achieve agreed delivery windows and efficient vehicle utilisation.
- Booking and managing port VBS slots and adjusting the plan when vessel, release or traffic conditions change.
- Monitoring live vehicle progress, traffic, delays and port conditions, and communicating directly with drivers throughout the day.
- Ensuring every transport plan is achievable within drivers' hours, tachograph and working-time requirements.
- Maintaining awareness of vehicle availability, defects, servicing, inspections and planned maintenance when allocating work.
- Overseeing customs clearance for imported containers through appointed freight forwarders and customs agents.
- Checking commercial invoices, packing lists, Bills of Lading, MRNs, commodity codes, customs values and country-of-origin information.
- Monitoring vessel arrivals, container availability, customs status, shipping-line releases and port/inventory releases.
- Ensuring containers are fully released before vehicles are dispatched for collection.
- Monitoring free-time periods and coordinating empty-container returns to avoid demurrage, detention, quay rent and storage charges.
- Checking and challenging incorrect shipping-line, port, forwarder or customs-agent charges.
- Ensuring PODs, job completion information and electronic transport/import records are returned and maintained accurately.
- Reviewing route efficiency, fleet utilisation, empty mileage and waiting time and recommending practical improvements.
The operation
- Approximately 60-80 imported containers per month through Felixstowe and London Gateway.
- Container collections handled by two to three drivers into our Southern location.
- A Northern delivery fleet of three to four vehicles operating from Howden.
- A Southern delivery operation of six to seven vehicles being established as the operation grows.
- A mixed fleet of tractor units, skeletal and curtainsider trailers and 18-tonne rigid vehicles.
What we are looking for
- Experience in transport planning, traffic office operations or live vehicle allocation.
- A practical working understanding of drivers' hours, tachograph rules and working-time requirements.
- Confidence communicating with HGV drivers and managing a busy plan under pressure.
- Experience in one or more of customs clearance, import administration, freight forwarding, container shipping, port logistics, customs brokerage or import/export operations.
- Practical knowledge of UK import and customs documentation.
- A good understanding of shipping-line procedures, container demurrage and detention.
- Good UK geographical and route-planning knowledge, particularly Felixstowe, London Gateway and London.
- Strong organisation, attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
- Good Microsoft Excel and general IT skills.
- A proactive approach and willingness to develop genuine competence across both transport planning and import control.
Important: If you are strong in transport planning but lighter on customs, or strong on customs/imports but lighter on planning, we would still like to hear from you. We will support the training needed to strengthen the other side of the role.
Desirable experience
- Container haulage or port transport operations.
- Planning mixed fleets including artics, trailers and rigid vehicles.
- Felixstowe and London Gateway VBS booking systems.
- HMRC Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Destin8 or other inventory-linked port processes.
- Transport Management Systems, route-planning software and ePOD systems.
- Imports from Asia/China, Incoterms, commodity classification, customs valuation and rules of origin.
- Transport Manager CPC or a relevant customs/international trade qualification.
What success looks like
- Containers are fully documented, cleared and released before collection.
- Collections and empty returns happen within free-time and return deadlines.
- Avoidable demurrage, detention, quay rent and storage charges are minimised.
- Drivers and vehicles are allocated efficiently and legally.
- Deliveries are completed safely and on time with empty mileage and waiting time controlled.
- POD, job, customs and cost information is accurate and up to date.
- Both post-holders can cover the full role so the operation remains resilient during holidays, sickness and busy periods.
Why join UK Trade Furnishings Ltd?
This is an opportunity to join the business at an important stage in the development of our Transport & Logistics operation. We are investing in our fleet, systems and people as import volumes grow and more transport activity is brought in-house.
You will have genuine ownership of the operation and will be able to influence how the Southern transport function and wider import-control processes are developed, rather than simply inheriting an established system.
Benefits
- £35,000-£40,000 salary depending on experience.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Auto-enrolment workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available.
- Full-time, permanent position.
- Monday-Friday working pattern.
How to apply
Please apply with your CV and a short summary of your relevant transport planning, customs, shipping or import experience. Please tell us which side of the role you are strongest on and where you would like support to develop.
Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom; we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.
UK Trade Furnishings Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and will make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process on request.
Direct applicants only - no agency approaches at this time.
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
