Transport Planner - Long-Haul & Bulk Logistics

Transport Planning | Road Freight | Drivers & Fleet | FMCG 

Do you know how to keep drivers, vehicles and deliveries moving when the plan inevitably changes?

Are you an experienced Transport Planner looking to build your career within a major international logistics operation, without needing to already be at Senior Planner level?

If you enjoy the pace of transport, solving problems on the move and making sure the right driver and vehicle are in the right place at the right time, we'd love to hear from you.

Van den Bosch is an international logistics leader specialising in bulk transport, combining deep industry expertise with data, technology and automation to deliver smarter, more sustainable transport solutions.

With 700+ employees across 17 international locations, we're now looking for a Transport Planner to support our UK operation for a key FMCG customer, working alongside colleagues in the UK and Netherlands.

Ready to become one of our Supply Changers?

The Role at a Glance
Transport Planner
Bournville, Birmingham
Competitive Salary DOE + Weekend Shift Overtime
Full Time | Permanent
40 Hours | Flexibility Required Due to the Operational Nature of the Role

Industry: Bulk Transport | Logistics | Road Freight
Pedigree: World Class Workplace 2024 | Top 10 Player in European Bulk Logistics

Operation: Long-Term Contract Supporting a Leading UK Chocolate Manufacturer
Your Background: Transport Planning | Long-Haul | Driver & Vehicle Planning | Fleet Operations | Drivers' Hours | WTD

Plan It. Solve It. Keep It Moving.

Transport rarely goes exactly to plan.

A driver is delayed. A collection time changes. Vehicle availability moves. A customer needs an answer. That's where you come in.

Working closely with our UK Planner and planning colleagues in the Netherlands, you'll help coordinate the day-to-day transport plan, ensuring drivers, vehicles, deliveries and collections keep moving efficiently.

You'll monitor schedules, respond to operational issues, support fleet utilisation and maintain the high standards of service, safety and quality our customers expect.

This isn't a Senior Transport Planner position. What we need is someone who already understands transport planning, is confident working within a busy operation and is ready to develop further within a specialist international logistics business.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Planning and coordinating drivers, vehicles, deliveries and collections
• Managing changing schedules and responding quickly to operational issues
• Monitoring driver and vehicle availability against customer demand
• Supporting efficient route planning and fleet utilisation
• Working within drivers' hours, WTD and transport compliance requirements
• Communicating with drivers, customers and operational stakeholders
• Working closely with planning colleagues in the UK and Netherlands
• Monitoring delivery and collection performance and resolving issues
• Supporting subcontractor and transport supplier coordination where required
• Maintaining accurate transport records and planning information
• Identifying opportunities to improve planning efficiency

You - The Ideal Candidate

You're already working within transport or logistics and understand the realities of keeping a busy road operation moving.

You might currently be a Transport Planner, Traffic Planner, Logistics Planner or Transport Coordinator who's ready for more responsibility and the opportunity to develop.

You'll be comfortable planning drivers and vehicles, working around delivery and collection windows and dealing with the inevitable last-minute changes that come with transport.

Experience within long-haul road freight, bulk transport or another fast-moving transport environment would be particularly valuable. You don't need to be a bulk transport specialist from day one, we'll give you the opportunity to develop that expertise.

You'll Likely Bring:

• Previous hands-on transport planning experience
• Experience coordinating drivers, vehicles, routes, deliveries and collections
• Exposure to long-haul road transport, bulk logistics or a comparable operation
• Understanding of drivers' hours and Working Time Directive requirements
• Good knowledge of day-to-day fleet and transport operations
• Experience using transport management or route planning systems
• Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills
• Confidence dealing with drivers, customers and operational colleagues
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach
• Ability to commute comfortably to Bournville

A Transport Manager CPC qualification would be a strong advantage.

Why Van Den Bosch?

• Join a leading international bulk transport specialist
• Work on a major long-term UK FMCG transport operation
• Paid overtime for weekend working
• Develop your expertise within specialist bulk logistics
• International collaboration with colleagues across the UK and Netherlands
• Ongoing development and career growth opportunities
• Varied, hands-on work where no two days are quite the same
• Strong focus on innovation, digitisation and smarter logistics

If you're an experienced Transport Planner who enjoys the pace of live operations and you're ready to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Your Experience / Background / Previous Roles May Include:
Transport Planner, Traffic Planner, Logistics Planner, Transport Coordinator, Traffic Coordinator, Transport Operations Planner, Fleet Planner, Route Planner, Logistics Coordinator, Transport Operations Coordinator.

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