Senior Transport Planner – Basildon
Salary £40-45K
Hours: 9am – 6pm
28 Days holiday Include Bank holidays
Career progression
Casual dress
Pension
Free Parking
Company socials
This isn’t a job for someone who just plots routes and hopes for the best. We’re looking for a Senior Transport Planner who can turn chaos into clean schedules, empty miles into revenue, and a group of drivers into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine.
If you see a delayed collection, a grumpy driver, or a half-empty trailer and think “challenge accepted”, keep reading.
What you’ll actually be doing
* Planning and optimising routes that make commercial sense—not just A to B, but A to B to C with something profitable in between
* Squeezing value out of every mile by spotting and securing backloads and extra work
* Being the calm, clever problem solver when things go sideways (traffic, breakdowns, last-minute customer “requests”)
* Getting the best out of drivers—balancing efficiency, fairness, and real-world constraints
* Working closely with customers, drivers, and ops to keep wheels turning and money moving
* Constantly asking: “How can this be done better, faster, or smarter?”
What makes you different
* You understand that transport planning is commercial, not just logistical
* You can juggle multiple moving parts without dropping the ball (or the trailer)
* You know how to motivate drivers, not just instruct them
* You spot opportunities others miss—extra loads, smarter swaps, tighter schedules
* You’re comfortable making decisions, owning them, and adapting fast
What success looks like
* Trucks moving efficiently and profitably
* Drivers who feel utilised, not abused
* Customers who trust us because problems get solved before they explode
* Fewer empty miles, more margin, and smoother days for everyone
The vibe
Fast-paced, hands-on, and occasionally unpredictable—just like transport. If you enjoy solving puzzles, thinking commercially, and turning pressure into progress, you’ll feel right at home