Transport Coordinator in Hartlepool

Main purpose and scope of job

All employees must take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Additionally, employees must co-operate with the company to enable it to discharge its responsibilities successfully.

The Transport Co-ordinator is responsible for the effective planning, coordination, and day-to-day control of commercial waste collections undertaken by the fleet. The role ensures that vehicles, drivers, and routes are managed efficiently to deliver a reliable, compliant, and cost-effective service to customers while meeting operational, legal, and health & safety requirements. The role will also provide cover for the rest of the fleet (bulk haulage).

To provide excellent customer service and a great customer experience, building relationships with customers (and colleagues) to achieve goals whilst balancing and supporting the needs of the business.

Position within organisation:

• Reports to: Transport Manager
• Responsible for: Collection Drivers
• Budget Responsibilities: N/A

Duties and key responsibilities - SHEQ:

• Responsible for personal safety and that of all personnel under their authority, including others who may be affected by the company’s activities.
• Act responsibly in relation to all matters which may affect the Health and Safety of yourselves and others whilst on Company premises, customers’ premises, and travelling between sites, and adhere to safety regulations at all times.
• Observe all safety procedures and instructions and assist in maintaining a safe workplace, reporting any accidents, hazards, near misses, damages, or defects to tools and equipment to the appropriate person.
• Wear appropriate protective equipment (PPE) and use any safety devices provided by the company at the relevant times.
• Report any safety hazards, defects, near-misses, or health and safety problems immediately.
• Complete Customer Site Risk Assessments, fully understanding the requirements and be able to transfer this knowledge to the Transport Operations team/crews.

Duties and key responsibilities - Operational:

• Plan, schedule, and optimise daily and weekly collection routes to maximise vehicle utilisation and service efficiency.
• Become expert in the use of VWS Purgo or alternate business operating system to ensure that all work is effectively set up on the system, accurately recorded, and invoiced.
• Coordinate drivers, vehicles, and resources to ensure all commercial and trade waste collections are completed on time and to agreed service levels.
• Conduct daily debriefs with every driver to review completed work, missed collections, incidents, customer feedback, and vehicle defects.
• Take full ownership of all job-related issues, including missed collections, access problems, contamination, customer complaints, and service failures, ensuring timely resolution and communication.
• Act as a central point of contact for drivers, customers, and internal teams, resolving operational issues and responding to service changes or disruptions.
• Monitor driver performance, adherence to routes, and completion of collections, addressing delays or non-compliance as required.
• Ensure compliance with transport legislation, waste regulations, health & safety standards, and company procedures.
• Manage vehicle availability, defects, maintenance scheduling, and breakdowns to minimise downtime.
• Maintain accurate transport records, route plans, and operational data using transport management systems.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to reduce costs, improve route efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Assist with onboarding and briefing of drivers, including route familiarisation and operational instructions.
• Deputise for the Transport Manager when necessary and carry out initial driver investigations.
• Support the arrangement of bin deliveries and collections as required.

Experience:

• Proven experience in a transport or logistics environment.
• Experience planning and coordinating multi collection/delivery routes in a fast-paced, time-critical environment.
• The role would suit somebody currently within the waste management, recycling, or environmental services industry, or someone within a Retail FMCG setting involved in high-volume daily delivery schedules.
• Previous responsibility for coordinating drivers, vehicles, and daily routes, including handling service issues and operational changes.
• Competent IT skills, including the use of transport management systems, scheduling software, and Microsoft Office.

Essential Knowledge:

• Satisfactory completion of the relevant Competency Management System modules.
• Completion of all other training as defined within the Training Matrix.
• Knowledge of relevant transport legislation, including drivers’ hours, working time, and vehicle compliance requirements.
• Understanding of health & safety responsibilities within transport and waste operations, including risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Knowledge of route planning principles and methods to improve efficiency, reduce mileage, and optimise vehicle utilisation.

Personal attributes and other requirements:

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Calm and resilient under pressure, with the ability to make effective decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Daily problem solver that looks at ways to create positive long-term changes to futureproof the business.
• Full UK driving licence (essential). C or CE entitlement (desirable).
• CPC qualification or transport-related qualification (desirable but not essential).
• To work flexibly, to cover for holidays/absence as required.
• Support with other general office administration as and when required.
• Salary range will be dependent on qualifications.
• Any other reasonable request.