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.