Transport Planner

About Vector Logistics

Vector Logistics operates as a Supply Chain and Sales & Merchandising partner, offering integrated, temperature-controlled logistics solutions across Southern Africa. With cutting-edge technology, infrastructure, and a dedicated team, Vector manages a unique multi-temperature vehicle fleet that services frozen, chilled, and ambient goods within a single delivery.

Role Purpose

This role focuses on formulating and managing daily transport plans that ensure balanced service excellence and operational efficiency, while supporting vehicle tracking and addressing daily operational inquiries. It plays a vital role in optimizing fleet utilization and maintaining superior customer service levels, also managing key customer logistics at operational and depot tiers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design daily routes to optimize productivity and service performance.
• Communicate route plans timely to depots or PBCSs.
• Align planning with operational KPIs.
• Evaluate special delivery requests, update temporary master data, assess feasibility, and inform stakeholders accordingly.
• Collaborate with regional DC leadership or PBCSs for route validation and operational consistency.
• Prepare and issue final daily schedules including special requests, startup times, KPI tracking, high-risk route identification, and fleet requirements.
• Analyze previous day’s routes comparing planned versus actual outcomes to pinpoint discrepancies.
• Maximize use of secondary and Unitrans fleets, reviewing daily availability and constraints.
• Match next-day orders to available fleet capacity, prioritize owned fleet over hired, and determine hired fleet needs.
• Communicate daily fleet resource requirements to depots, including drivers, vehicle assistants, and vehicles.
• Conduct monthly fleet utilization reviews per DC and initiate corrective measures where necessary.
• Monitor daily plan versus actual performance, categorizing variances into master data errors, ad-hoc events, isolated incidents, and areas for analytical improvement.
• Perform root cause analyses of deviations and integrate findings into planning workflows.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the Routing and Scheduling Controller on master data updates.
• Regularly analyze turnaround times and travel speeds.
• Oversee daily expediting across transport hubs, coordinate with expeditors, identify potential risks early, and communicate delays to customers and sales teams.
• Maintain and manage redelivery registers and plan accordingly.
• Lead and manage team members and stakeholders ensuring adherence to labour laws and agreements; handle attendance, overtime, and leave management.
• Generate and present daily and monthly reports on plan versus actual, fleet utilization, service levels, and financial outcomes to depot leadership.
• Facilitate communication amongst planning, depots, sales, and customers.
• Ensure accurate master data maintenance and produce weekly quality reports.
• Drive customer onboarding processes.
• Support delivery of KPIs including fleet utilization, route profitability, customer hit rates, delivery adherence, service levels, budget compliance, and savings goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or Management.
• Honours degree is preferred.
• At least 2 years’ experience in FMCG or transport operations.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong grasp of transport planning principles.
• Understanding of FMCG logistics and customer operations.
• Experience with telemetry and vehicle tracking systems.
• Proficiency in master data management and interpreting transport KPIs.
• Ability to analyze operational data financially.

Additional Information

The organization promotes employment equity and values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Preference is given to candidates from designated groups in line with their Equity Plan. Applicants not contacted within 3 to 4 weeks should consider their applications unsuccessful. Applicants are encouraged to monitor for future opportunities aligned with their expertise and career ambitions.