Senior Transport Planner - Operations & Systems
At Williams Haulage we’ve created a new role for an experienced Senior Transport Planner, to join our busy transport planning team in Sandycroft.
This is a key operational role for an experienced transport planner who can support the day-to-day running of our busy HGV fleet while helping improve planning systems, reporting and processes through automation. We're looking for someone with strong transport experience and a practical, positive approach to technology and continuous improvement.
The Role
As the Senior Transport Planner, you’ll work closely with our Transport Planning Manager and support colleagues within the small planning team, sharing responsibility for the daily operation while helping us continue to develop the systems and processes that support it.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Planning and coordinating daily HGV movements across our UK operation
- Allocating vehicles, trailers and drivers to maximise utilisation and minimise empty mileage
- Identifying backload and consolidation opportunities
- Monitoring live operations and responding to changing customer and operational requirements
- Working closely with drivers, customers, subcontractors and colleagues
- Ensuring compliance with Drivers' Hours, Working Time and transport legislation
- Making commercially informed decisions that balance service, efficiency and profitability
- Supporting planning administration and reporting
- Helping to develop our transport systems, reporting and automation
- Identifying opportunities to improve workflows, information visibility and operational efficiency
- Contributing ideas on how technology, data and AI can further support the transport operation
About You
You’ll have:
- Strong experience in HGV transport planning
- A genuine interest in systems, automation and continuous improvement
- Experience using a Transport Management System (Mandata desirable)
- Excellent knowledge of the UK road network
- A good understanding of Drivers’ Hours, tachograph and Working Time regulations
- Confidence analysing operational data, reporting and Excel-based information
- Strong commercial awareness and decision-making ability
- Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving skills
Experience with vehicle tracking, digital driver communication, reporting tools or workflow automation would be advantageous.
You do not need to be an IT specialist or software developer. We’re looking for someone who understands transport first, but who is also comfortable using technology to support good planning, improve visibility and make the operation more efficient.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to play an important role within a forward-thinking logistics business
- Genuine responsibility and autonomy
- Experienced and supportive transport team
- Long-term career potential
- Permanent contract
- Salary in the region of £40,000 to £45,000 dependent on experience
- Company pension
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Plus flexibility to deal with occasional urgent matters out of office hours
More About Us
For over 50 years, Williams Haulage has delivered trusted logistics solutions across the UK and beyond. As a family-led business with a modern fleet of 80 assets, we're continuing to invest in our people, systems and future growth.
Interested?
If you're an experienced transport planner looking for a role where you can genuinely influence both the day-to-day operation and the future development of the planning function, we'd love to hear from you.
Please apply with your up-to-date CV and a short cover letter outlining what you can bring to this Senior Transport Planner role and your motivation for applying.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £40,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Sandycroft CH5 2QZ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience with enhancing or introducing systems, automation and continuous improvement, to make a planning operation more efficient?
- Do you have a good understanding of Drivers’ Hours, tachograph and Working Time regulations?
- Are you confident with analysing operational data, reporting and Excel-based information?
Experience:
- HGV transport planning: 4 years (required)
Work Location: In person
