Transport Planner at Vector Logistics

Job Purpose

• To develop and manage daily transport plans that balance service delivery with operational efficiency, while supporting vehicle tracking and resolving day-to-day operational queries. The role provides critical planning support to ensure effective fleet utilisation and a high level of customer service. In addition, the role manages principal customer logistics requirements at both operational and depot level. 

Transport Planning & Scheduling

• Develop daily route plans to ensure optimal productivity and service delivery.
• Deliver route plans to depots or PBCS’s within agreed timelines.
• Ensure planning is aligned with prescribed operational KPIs.
• Review special delivery requests, update temporary master data, assess feasibility, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders.
• Engage regional DC leadership teams or PBCSs to validate routing plans and ensure operational alignment.
• Compile and issue daily final schedules, including:
• Special requests
• Startup times
• KPI achievement
• High-risk routes
• Fleet requirements (owned and hired)
• Analyse previous day routes to compare plan vs actual and clearly identify variances.

Fleet Utilisation & Capacity Management

• Maximise utilisation of the secondary fleet and or Unitrans fleet.
• Review fleet availability daily and fully understand constraints.
• Align next-day orders with available fleet capacity.
• Prioritise owned fleet usage over hired fleet.
• Determine hired fleet requirements where necessary.
• Communicate daily fleet requirements (drivers, VAs, and vehicles) clearly to depots.
• Conduct monthly fleet utilisation analysis by DC and implement corrective actions where required.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor plan vs actual performance daily:
• Categorise variances into:
• Master data issues
• Ad-hoc events
• One-off incidents
• Analytical improvement opportunities
• Conduct root cause analysis on deviations and embed learnings into planning systems.
• Maintain ongoing feedback with the Routing and Scheduling Controller on master data changes.
• Perform regular Turnaround Time (TAT) and travel speed analysis.

Expediting & Execution Control

• Manage daily expediting operations across assigned transport hubs.
• Track live execution in communication with expeditors.
• Identify risks early and communicate delays to customers and sales teams.
• Maintain a redelivery register and plan accordingly.

People Leadership

• Lead and manage a team and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation and collective agreements.
• Manage attendance, overtime, and leave.

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Generate daily and monthly reports on:
• Plan vs actual
• Fleet utilisation
• Service levels
• Financial performance
• Prepare monthly efficiency reports and present to depot leadership.
• Provide updates on corrective actions and process improvements.
• Maintain strong communication channels between:
• Planning
• Depots
• Sales
• Customers

Master Data Management

• Maintain accurate planning and routing master data.
• Produce weekly master data quality reports.
• Champion customer onboarding processes.

Financial & KPI Accountability

• The role directly supports delivery against:
• Fleet utilisation targets
• Route profitability
• Customer hit rates
• Delivery adherence
• Service levels
• Budget adherence
• Savings commitments

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job

• 3-year Degree in Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or Management
• Honours Degree (advantageous)
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in FMCG or transport operations

Skills and Competencies

• Transport planning principles
• FMCG logistics
• Customer operations
• Telemetry / vehicle tracking
• Master data management
• Transport KPIs
• Financial interpretation of operational data