Transport Coordinator in Northampton

Transport Planner
Location: Kettering Salary: £35,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience Job Type: Permanent
The Role
We are recruiting for an experienced Transport Planner to join an established and successful logistics operation.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong transport planning experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, coordinating vehicles and drivers, managing changing priorities and ensuring customer commitments are met.
You will play a key role in the day-to-day planning and coordination of transport operations, working closely with drivers, customers and internal teams to ensure the fleet is utilised efficiently and operations run smoothly.
Key Responsibilities
Transport Planning & Coordination
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Produce daily transport plans, including route planning, vehicle scheduling and driver allocation.
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Ensure effective utilisation of fleet resources to meet operational and customer requirements.
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Monitor live transport operations throughout the day and make adjustments where required.
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React quickly to changes, delays and operational challenges to maintain service levels.
Customer & Stakeholder Communication
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Act as a key operational contact for customers, providing updates on collections, deliveries and service performance.
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Communicate clearly and effectively with drivers, providing accurate instructions and ongoing operational support.
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Liaise with internal departments including Compliance, Fleet, Warehouse and Customer Service.
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Build strong working relationships with customers and operational teams.
Operational Monitoring & Problem Solving
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Track consignments from collection through to delivery, ensuring agreed timescales are achieved.
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Identify and resolve operational issues quickly and effectively.
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Escalate significant issues where appropriate to minimise disruption.
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Maintain accurate records of delays, incidents and operational issues.
Compliance & Safety
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Ensure transport planning activities comply with relevant legislation, including drivers' hours, Working Time Directive and vehicle weight restrictions.
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Work closely with the Compliance and Fleet teams to support vehicle availability, maintenance and defect management.
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Ensure operational procedures and safety requirements are consistently followed.
Administration & Reporting
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Maintain accurate system information relating to routes, loads, vehicles and customer requirements.
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Produce operational reports covering performance, service levels, planning efficiency and any service failures.
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Support internal audits and compliance checks by providing accurate documentation and information.
Continuous Improvement
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Identify opportunities to improve transport planning efficiency, service quality and cost control.
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Support operational improvement projects and new initiatives.
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Identify potential operational risks and communicate these to management.
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Provide operational cover during periods of absence or increased demand.
About You
The successful candidate will ideally have:
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Previous experience within transport planning, logistics or a similar operational environment.
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A strong understanding of UK transport planning and logistics operations.
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Knowledge of drivers' hours, Working Time Directive and relevant transport legislation.
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Experience using Microsoft Office and transport management systems.
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Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail.
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The ability to remain calm and make effective decisions under pressure.
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Strong communication skills with the confidence to liaise with drivers, customers and internal departments.
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A proactive approach to problem solving and the ability to manage changing priorities.
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The ability to work independently as well as part of a wider operational team.
Experience within general haulage, dry goods or temperature-controlled logistics would be advantageous.
A Transport Manager CPC qualification would be desirable but is not essential.
What's on Offer
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Permanent position
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£35,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience
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Opportunity to join an established and successful logistics operation
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Varied and responsible role with scope to develop
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Fast-paced working environment
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Opportunity to make a real impact on transport efficiency and customer service
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