At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and coordinate daily transport operations for optimal fleet performance.
- Company: Established logistics company in Birmingham with a focus on efficiency.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 28 days holiday, and a permanent contract.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in transport operations.
- Qualifications: Experience in transport planning and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 £ per year.
Our well-established client based in Birmingham are seeking an experienced and driven Transport Operator to join their operations team. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering efficient, compliant transport planning across the pallet network and dedicated distribution activities.
Salary: £33,000 – £35,000 (depending on experience)
Working Hours: Monday – Friday, 06:00 – 15:00 (one-hour unpaid lunch break)
Contract: Permanent
Holiday: 28 days, including bank holidays
Key Responsibilities:
- Executing daily delivery and collection routes, ensuring efficient vehicle utilisation, minimising empty running, and achieving service windows.
- Optimising route planning using cost-to-serve principles, balancing service performance with fuel efficiency, mileage reduction, and labour productivity.
- Monitoring live fleet operations, making real-time planning adjustments to mitigate delays, maximise productivity, and protect service levels.
- Ensuring full compliance with Drivers' Hours and Working Time Directive (WTD) regulations, proactively managing driver availability and legal working limits.
- Managing daily pallet network operations, including manifesting, trunk planning, hub departure compliance, and delivery route scheduling across systems such as Pallet Track, Pall-Ex, Palletline, or equivalent VIGO TMS platforms.
- Tracking consignments and delivery performance, ensuring accurate status updates and timely exception management within the network and internal systems.
- Analysing operational performance data, identifying planning improvements, cost-saving opportunities, and efficiency gains across fleet and subcontractor activity.
- Conducting structured driver briefings and debriefings, ensuring operational priorities, route planning, and compliance expectations are clearly communicated.
- Liaising with pallet network hubs, customers, subcontractors, and internal departments to resolve operational challenges and maintain KPI performance.
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives by identifying trends, improving load build strategies, and enhancing route planning processes.
- Providing clear and structured shift handovers to maintain operational continuity between planning teams.
About You:
We are looking for a proactive, commercially aware transport professional who can combine operational planning with a strong focus on compliance and service.
You will ideally have:
- Previous experience within a transport planning or transport operator role.
- Strong knowledge of Drivers' Hours and Working Time Directive (WTD) regulations.
- Experience working within pallet network or groupage distribution operations such as Pallet Track, Pall-Ex, Palletline, or similar hub-and-spoke logistics environments.
- Strong planning and analytical skills, with the ability to optimise routes and improve cost-to-serve performance.
- Experience using transport management systems VIGO / Contrado (TMS), route planning tools, and Microsoft Office packages, particularly Excel.
- Excellent organisational and multitasking abilities within fast-paced operational environments.
- Strong communication skills, with confidence managing driver engagement and stakeholder relationships.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with strong attention to detail and operational efficiency.
- Knowledge of pallet weight.
Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, if you have not heard from us within two weeks, unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful.
Transport Controller in Birmingham employer: Reactive Driving Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Reactive Driving Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Transport Controller in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the transport industry on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to transport operations. Think about how you can showcase your experience with route planning and compliance – it’s all about demonstrating your expertise!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values and career goals. Check out our website for openings that match your skills, especially in transport planning and operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for their team.
We think you need these skills to ace Transport Controller in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Transport Operator role. Highlight your experience in transport planning and any relevant systems you've used, like Pallet Track or VIGO TMS. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Compliance Knowledge: Since compliance is key in this role, don’t forget to mention your understanding of Drivers' Hours and Working Time Directive regulations. We love candidates who can demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to operational standards.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your experience and skills. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts and you’re good to go!
How to prepare for a job interview at Reactive Driving Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of transport planning and the specific regulations like Drivers' Hours and WTD. Familiarise yourself with the systems mentioned in the job description, such as Pallet Track or VIGO TMS, so you can confidently discuss how you've used them in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled operational challenges in previous jobs. Think about times when you had to make real-time adjustments to routes or manage driver availability. This will demonstrate your proactive mindset and ability to think on your feet.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since strong communication skills are key for this role, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. You might be asked how you would conduct driver briefings or liaise with stakeholders, so have a few scenarios ready to showcase your approach to effective communication.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Efficiency Improvements
The company is looking for someone who can identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency. Prepare to discuss any past experiences where you've successfully implemented changes that led to better performance or reduced costs, and be ready to suggest ideas for their operations.