TRANSPORT PLANNER
Vacuum Tanker Operations – Food & Beverage Industry
Salary: £35,000+ per annum, dependent on experience
Hours: Any 5 days from 7
On-Call: Shared emergency overnight phone coverage
Team: Working as part of a team of 3 Traffic Planners
We are looking for an experienced and organised Transport Planner to join our busy tanker operations team.
The role involves planning and coordinating a fleet of vacuum tankers providing waste management and industrial services to customers predominantly within the food and beverage industry.
You will work as part of a three-person Traffic Planning team, ensuring vehicles and drivers are efficiently scheduled while maintaining excellent customer service and compliance with transport legislation.
The Role
Your responsibilities will include:
- Daily planning and scheduling of vacuum tanker operations
- Allocating drivers and vehicles to customer collections and deliveries
- Managing changes to the daily plan and responding to operational issues
- Liaising directly with drivers throughout their shifts
- Communicating with customers regarding collections, deliveries and site requirements
- Maximising vehicle utilisation and reducing unnecessary mileage
- Coordinating tipping and disposal locations
- Monitoring drivers' hours, Working Time Directive requirements and operational compliance
- Working closely with the Operations and Transport Management teams
- Ensuring accurate job information is provided to drivers
- Updating transport and job-management systems
- Managing breakdowns, delays and other unexpected operational issues
- Providing clear handovers between planners
- Helping maintain a safe, efficient and commercially effective transport operation
Working Pattern
The position operates on an any 5 days from 7 basis.
As our operations run across the week, the successful candidate must be prepared to work a fair share of weekends as part of the planning rota.
The three Traffic Planners will also share responsibility for the emergency overnight phone, dealing with urgent operational issues that may arise outside normal office hours.
About You
We are looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in transport planning, traffic planning or fleet operations
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced transport environment
- Highly organised and able to prioritise changing workloads
- Confident communicating with HGV drivers and customers
- Able to make quick, practical decisions when plans change
- Commercially aware and focused on efficient fleet utilisation
- Comfortable using transport planning and job-management software
- Knowledgeable about drivers' hours and transport compliance
- Reliable and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small team
Experience within vacuum tankers, waste management, industrial services, liquid waste, drainage or the food and beverage sector would be a strong advantage, although applicants from other busy transport environments will also be considered.
A Transport Manager CPC would be advantageous but is not essential.
Salary & Benefits
£35,000+ per annum, dependent on experience
The final package will reflect the successful candidate's previous transport planning experience and relevant industry knowledge.
Why Join Us?
This is an important operational position within a busy tanker fleet where you will have genuine responsibility for the day-to-day running of the transport operation.
You will work as part of a small, experienced planning team supporting a specialist fleet serving customers throughout the food and beverage industry.
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: From £35,000 per year, with higher salary available dependent on experience.
Pay: From £35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
