At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and coordinate daily skip deliveries, ensuring smooth transport operations.
- Company: Join Panda, a leading resource recovery business with a strong team culture.
- Benefits: Hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment with growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a company that values innovation, teamwork, and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on service delivery while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Organised, proactive, and able to manage changing priorities effectively.
As a Transport Planner at Panda, you’ll play a key role in keeping our transport operations moving efficiently every day. This is a busy, fast-paced role where you’ll coordinate skip deliveries, exchanges and collections, making sure drivers, vehicles and routes are planned effectively to meet customer and operational needs.
The Role
In this role, you’ll be responsible for planning and coordinating daily skip activity, supporting route performance, managing operational changes and helping ensure a high level of service delivery. You’ll work closely with drivers, operations, customer service, accounts and other teams to make sure work is scheduled realistically, completed on time and accurately recorded in the system.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Planning, scheduling and coordinating daily skip deliveries, exchanges and collections
- Allocating drivers and vehicles effectively to meet operational demand
- Ensuring drivers and vehicles are dispatched on time each day
- Maintaining daily and forward scheduling rosters
- Making sure sufficient resources are available for next-day operational requirements
- Monitoring routes throughout the day to support timely completion
- Reviewing route performance and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency
- Supporting route optimisation activity to help improve service and reduce costs
- Ensuring all routes are verified, completed and signed off in the system
- Logging and following up on system or operational issues through to resolution
- Keeping in regular contact with drivers and operational crews
- Liaising with Customer Service, Operations, Accounts and other departments to support smooth service delivery
- Providing updates on route progress, delays, missed services or operational issues
- Coordinating ad hoc or urgent work requests when required
- Carrying out end-of-day driver debriefs
- Responding to driver queries and helping resolve issues quickly
- Managing operational disruptions such as vehicle breakdowns, delays or missed collections
- Recording and reporting accidents, incidents and breakdowns in line with company procedures
- Preparing, issuing and managing delivery dockets, manifests and related documentation
- Reviewing previous day documentation and resolving discrepancies within agreed timescales
- Maintaining accurate records of scheduling activity
- Supporting workload planning to avoid over-commitment and unrealistic scheduling
- Working closely with Customer Service to manage order intake and customer expectations
- Helping maintain strong service performance levels, including completion targets
- Supporting team objectives and contributing positively to overall operational performance
About You
We’re looking for someone who can work well in a busy transport or operations environment and enjoys solving problems in real time. You’ll be someone who is:
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Confident planning, scheduling or coordinating operational activity
- Able to manage changing priorities throughout the day
- A clear and professional communicator
- Comfortable working with drivers, operational teams and internal departments
- Able to make practical decisions under pressure
- Good at spotting issues early and following them through to resolution
- Accurate when handling records, systems and documentation
- Customer-focused and aware of the impact scheduling has on service delivery
- Flexible, reliable and willing to support the wider team when needed
Experience in transport, logistics, waste management, skip operations or route scheduling would be helpful, but what matters most is that you are organised, proactive and able to keep operations moving.
Why Join Panda?
This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a hands-on Transport Planner role in a busy operational environment. You’ll be joining a team where communication, planning and teamwork are essential, and where your work has a direct impact on service delivery every day. As Panda continues to grow, this role offers the chance to build experience in a fast-moving business and play an important part in supporting our customers, drivers and operations teams.
About The Company
We are Panda. We value waste. We’re in the business of waste management but that doesn’t just mean collecting bins. Behind every collection is a passionate team of people finding smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste. Over the past 30 years, Panda has grown into a leading resource recovery business, bringing together almost 3,000 people across multiple brands, united by a shared vision and strong values. While our operations are diverse, our purpose is clear: to protect our people, support our customers, and create positive impact for the communities and environments we serve.
At Panda, people are at the heart of everything we do. We work as one team, combining different skills, experiences, and perspectives to achieve shared goals. We care for each other’s wellbeing, encourage development, and support growth because we know we’re stronger together. We expect excellence in how we operate. High standards, bold thinking, and continuous improvement drive our passion for innovation. We challenge the ordinary, put safety first, and embrace new ideas while delivering practical, cost-effective solutions that move our business forward. We own what we do. From day-to-day tasks to major projects, we take pride in our work and responsibility for the outcome. We don’t walk past problems we address them together. Our expertise, reliability, and care reflect who we are and the difference we make. And above all, we act with trust and integrity. Trust is built through open communication, honesty, and accountability. It allows us to move quickly, make confident decisions, and deliver results — knowing our people are empowered to do the right thing. Our journey depends on talented, committed people who want to make an impact. Take the first step and join us on the journey.
Panda is committed to attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate and the people we serve.
Transport Planner employer: Panda
Panda is an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing and development of its employees, offering a competitive salary and benefits package alongside comprehensive training and professional growth opportunities. With a strong commitment to safety, health, environment, and quality, you will be part of a supportive team culture that values collaboration and innovation, allowing you to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic operational setting. Join us in our mission to create positive change in waste management while advancing your SHEQ career in a company that truly values its people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Transport Planner
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
Dive into local transportation and logistics groups on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Show up to their meetups if you can – it's a great way to network with industry pros who can share insights, job openings, or even refer you to their own company.
✨Get Behind the Wheel of Job Boards
Look for job boards specific to transportation and logistics, like Logistics Job Site or TransportJobs. These platforms often have listings that you won’t find on general job boards, so they’re worth checking out regularly!
✨Leverage Internships & Graduate Schemes
Many companies in transportation and logistics offer graduate schemes and internships that can pave the way to full-time positions. Don't shy away from applying; even a short stint can make a solid impact on your CV and get your foot in the door at companies like Panda.
✨Apply Directly with Us!
When you find openings at great companies, make sure to apply directly through our website. It not only shows your initiative but also helps us to help you get noticed by Panda. Every application gets us one step closer to landing that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Transport Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at Panda, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at Panda and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into Panda. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at Panda
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at Panda.
✨Show Off Your Attention to Detail
In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to Panda.
