Transport Planner in Isle of Wight, Ryde

Job Description Transport PlannerLocation: TelfordSalary: £32,000 per annumHours: Monday to Friday, 10:00–19:3037.5 hours per weekType: Permanent\n \nThe RoleThis is a Transport Planner role for someone who understands that transport rarely behaves itself.\n \nRoutes change.\n \nTraffic happens.\n \nVehicles break down.\n \nDrivers call in sick.\n \nCustomers add deliveries.\n \nAnd somehow, everything still needs to get where it's supposed to be.\n \nYou'll take ownership of the planning function, making sure vehicles, drivers and deliveries are organised as efficiently and realistically as possible.\n \nThis is not just about plotting dots on a map.\n \nYou'll need to understand the practical side of transport — what drivers can actually achieve, what the vehicles can legally and physically do, where access is difficult, how driver hours affect the plan and what to change when things start going sideways.\n \nThe right person will be calm, switched on and naturally solutions-focused.\n \nWhat You'll Be Doing\n \n Planning efficient daily routes for vans, rigids and HGVs \n \n Allocating work to drivers based on experience, availability and vehicle type \n \n Making sure delivery plans are achievable and compliant \n \n Monitoring routes throughout the day and reacting to changes \n \n Replanning where necessary due to traffic, breakdowns, delays or driver availability \n \n Checking driver hours and working time compliance \n \n Using TachoMaster or similar systems to review driver activity and identify potential infringements \n \n Working closely with drivers and understanding the practical challenges they face \n \n Liaising with depots, warehouse teams, customers and management \n \n Managing urgent or time-critical deliveries \n \n Reviewing route efficiency and reducing unnecessary mileage \n \n Looking at opportunities to reduce overtime, agency usage and external haulage costs \n \n Making sure the right vehicle is allocated to the right job \n \n Taking into account payload, dimensions, access restrictions and road limitations \n \n Keeping customers updated when delays or changes occur \n \n Producing reports and keeping transport systems up to date \n \n Supporting the wider transport team with day-to-day operational issues \n \n Identifying problems early and putting practical solutions in place before they become bigger ones \n \n \nWhat You'll Need\n \n We're looking for someone with previous experience in transport or logistics planning. \n \n You'll need a good understanding of how a busy transport operation actually works and what it takes to keep deliveries on track. \n \n You'll ideally have experience of: \n \n Transport planning \n \n Route planning \n \n Working with drivers \n \n Vans, rigids and/or HGV operations \n \n Drivers' hours rules \n \n Working Time Regulations \n \n Tachograph compliance \n \n TachoMaster or a similar system \n \n Vehicle and payload restrictions \n \n Route restrictions and access issues \n \n Delivery planning \n \n Transport Management Systems \n \n Excel and reporting \n \n Cost-efficient planning \n \n Good geographical knowledge is also really important. \n \n You don't need to know every road in Britain off by heart, but you do need to understand that the shortest route on a screen is not always the smartest route in real life. \n \n \nWhat Will Make You Good At ThisYou'll be organised.\n \nBut more importantly, you'll be adaptable.\n \nTransport planning can be beautifully organised at 10:00am and look completely different by lunchtime.\n \nYou'll need to be able to make quick decisions without losing your head.\n \nYou'll also need to communicate properly.\n \nDrivers need clear instructions.\n \nCustomers need realistic updates.\n \nWarehouse teams need to know what is happening.\n \nManagement needs to know when there is a risk.\n \nAnd sometimes you'll be the person joining all of that together.\n \nStrong problem-solving skills will make a huge difference here.\n \nIf your first reaction to a breakdown, failed delivery or route issue is:\n \n“Right, what are our options?”\n \nrather than:\n \n“Well, that's ruined the day.”\n \nyou'll probably do very well.\n \nWhat You Might Not LikeTransport planning is not always calm.\n \nThere will be days where the plan changes several times.\n \nYou may have:\n \nA driver unavailable at short notice\n \nA vehicle breakdown\n \nA delivery added late\n \nA customer chasing an ETA\n \nA route that suddenly becomes impossible\n \nA compliance issue that means the plan has to change\n \nYou'll need to stay level-headed and keep making sensible decisions.\n \nThe hours are also 10:00–19:30 Monday to Friday, so this is not a standard 9-to-5 position.\n \nFor the right person, that later shift gives you real ownership of the afternoon and evening operation.\n \nWhat To Do NextIf you've got