Transport & Logistics in Felixstowe

Role Title: Senior Transport Planner – Haulage & Freight Operations

Sector/Environment: Road haulage and logistics company specialising in containerised freight, port operations, and general transport services

Location: Felixstowe (Suffolk) – office-based with occasional site/port visits

Contract Type: Permanent (via AVTAV placement)

Salary: £42,000 per annum basic + benefits package (including performance bonus, pension, and holiday entitlement)

Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday (standard office hours with flexibility for occasional early/late cover to meet port schedules)

Purpose of Role: To lead transport planning and optimisation for a busy haulage operation, ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and compliant movement of goods, particularly containers to/from Felixstowe Port. The Senior Transport Planner will manage daily planning, driver scheduling, route optimisation, and stakeholder coordination in a high-volume, time-sensitive freight environment.

Key Responsibilities and Qualifications

• Develop and manage daily/weekly transport plans for container collections, deliveries, and trunking operations, optimising routes, loads, and vehicle utilisation to minimise costs and maximise efficiency.
• Coordinate with port terminals, customers, drivers, and subcontractors to ensure on-time performance and compliance with booking windows, cut-offs, and port regulations.
• Monitor real-time operations using TMS (Transport Management System) software, adjusting plans for delays, traffic, weather, or customer changes.
• Allocate drivers and vehicles, manage shift rosters, and ensure full compliance with Working Time Directive, tachograph rules, and drivers’ hours regulations.
• Liaise with port authorities, shipping lines, and haulage partners to resolve issues, book slots, and maintain strong relationships.
• Analyse performance data (e.g., utilisation, fuel efficiency, on-time delivery rates) and produce regular reports with recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Oversee cost control, including fuel, tolls, driver overtime, and subcontractor invoices.
• Support the Transport Manager with strategic planning, fleet requirements, and implementation of new processes or technology.
• Handle escalations, customer queries, and incident reporting (e.g., accidents, breakdowns, customs delays).
• Mentor junior planners and contribute to team development.

Minimum 3+ years’ experience in transport planning or operations management within road haulage, container logistics, port freight, or similar high-volume transport environments.

Proven track record of planning multi-drop/container movements, ideally with Felixstowe Port or major UK container ports.

Strong knowledge of UK/EU drivers’ hours rules, Working Time Directive, tachograph compliance, and road freight regulations.

Experience using TMS/ERP systems (e.g., Key Software, HaulTech, Paragon, or similar) for route optimisation and planning.

Full UK driving licence (clean and valid) – essential for occasional site visits or operational checks.

Excellent organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage pressure and prioritise in a dynamic environment.

Strong communication and negotiation skills for dealing with drivers, customers, ports, and subcontractors.

IT proficient (Excel advanced, MS Office suite) for data analysis and reporting.

Right to Work in the UK (valid documentation required).

Experience with containerised freight, intermodal transport, or Felixstowe-specific port operations.

Knowledge of customs procedures, CPC qualification, or transport management certification.

Previous supervisory or senior planning experience leading small teams.

Benefits Package

• Basic salary: £42,000 per annum
• Performance-related bonus (paid annually or quarterly – details to be confirmed)
• Standard holiday entitlement + bank holidays
• Company benefits (e.g., life assurance, employee assistance programme – to be confirmed)
• Ongoing professional development and support