MaViAl UK vacancies for non-UK candidates
Home / Jobs / United Kingdom / Transport Planner

Transport Planner jobs in the United Kingdom

Plan routes, protect delivery slots, and keep cost, service and exceptions under control — in a role where accuracy and calm communication matter.

Logistics & Warehousing Mid-level Sponsorship likelihood: Medium (indicative) Gross pay benchmark included
CV required: candidates without a CV are not considered.
Tip: include TMS tools used, planning volumes (drops/day), and measurable outcomes (OTIF %, cost-per-drop improvement).
Work eligibility: non-UK candidates must have the right to work in the UK or apply for roles where sponsorship is possible (depends on employer, role and salary band).

What you will do (day-to-day)

Transport planners sit at the intersection of warehouse reality and customer promises. Your job is to turn orders into a workable plan: route building, slot protection, carrier allocation, and fast decisions when exceptions hit (late inbound, vehicle swap, traffic, short picks).

  • Create and adjust route plans to match delivery windows, capacity and service priorities.
  • Allocate loads to own fleet or subcontracted carriers, balancing cost and reliability.
  • Control slots, timing and loading sequence to reduce waiting and missed departures.
  • Track KPIs (OTIF, utilisation, cost-per-drop) and escalate risks early.
  • Maintain accurate data in TMS, ensuring clean handovers and audit-ready records.

Requirements (detailed)

  • CV in English (mandatory) with clear planning history and measurable results.
  • Relevant experience in transport planning, dispatch, routing or logistics coordination.
  • Systems confidence: TMS use (any major platform) and strong Excel for analysis and reporting.
  • Planning skills: capacity management, route optimisation logic, and exception handling under time pressure.
  • Stakeholder communication: warehouse, drivers/carriers, customer service, and operations leadership.
  • Compliance awareness: practical understanding of driver hours / rest constraints and safe operating procedures (depth depends on employer).
  • Shift readiness: some sites run early/late rotations, weekends or peak-season patterns.
Strong advantage: experience with multi-drop distribution, time-critical deliveries, and documented KPI improvements.

Short candidate portrait

You are organised, numbers-driven, and comfortable making fast trade-offs. You do not “plan once and hope” — you monitor, adjust, and communicate so the operation stays stable even when reality changes.

  • You think in constraints: time windows, capacity, loading sequence, and service priority.
  • You keep it calm: clear messages, quick escalation, and no surprises for ops.
  • You protect quality: clean TMS data, accurate notes, and disciplined handovers.
  • You learn fast: new depots, new carriers, new volumes — same planning logic.
Next step: Submit your CV via the CV page. MaViAl screens your profile against current UK demand and client requirements for Transport Planner / logistics planning roles.
Go to CV page (Required) Browse more Logistics & Warehousing roles

UK working conditions (practical overview)

  • Payroll: most roles are paid via PAYE with tax and National Insurance handled through payroll.
  • Holiday: statutory paid leave is typically equivalent to 5.6 weeks for full-time work (often expressed as 28 days for a 5-day week, employer-dependent).
  • Pension: workplaces commonly operate pension auto-enrolment rules where eligible workers may be enrolled (contribution structure depends on scheme).
  • Rest breaks: if you work more than 6 hours, you typically have the right to an uninterrupted rest break (contract can define paid/unpaid).
Note: exact benefits and eligibility depend on the employer contract, earnings thresholds and the worker’s status.

Salary (gross / brutto) & progression

Market benchmarks for Transport Planner roles in the UK sit around the mid-£30k range, with variance by region, shift pattern and responsibility scope.

  • Indicative gross range: £30,000–£40,000 / year.
  • Allowances: some employers add shift premiums, weekend rates or performance-related bonuses.
  • Progression: Senior Transport Planner → Transport Supervisor/Manager → Network/Planning Lead (scope and pay increase with fleet size, budget ownership and compliance responsibility).
We show benchmarks, not guarantees. Final gross pay depends on the employer offer and your proven planning outcomes.

Application workflow

1) CV submission English CV is mandatory. No CV means no consideration.
2) Screening Planning experience, tools, volumes and KPI outcomes checked.
3) Interview Operational scenarios: exceptions, slots, cost vs service trade-offs.
4) Offer stage Contract terms, shift pattern, start date and onboarding steps.

FAQ (Transport Planner, UK)

Is visa sponsorship possible for Transport Planner jobs in the UK?
Sometimes. Sponsorship depends on the specific employer, their licence status and whether the offered role and salary fit their sponsorship approach. Your best leverage is a strong CV showing TMS use, planning complexity (drops/routes), and measurable improvements.
What should I highlight in my CV for a Transport Planner role?
Include: TMS tools, route volumes (routes/day, drops/day), fleet type (rigids, artics, vans), time windows, and KPI outcomes (OTIF %, utilisation %, cost-per-drop change). Add 2–3 “exception stories” where you solved a high-pressure issue.
Do Transport Planners work shifts or weekends?
Many UK operations run early/late rotations and some include weekends—especially retail distribution and 3PL networks. The exact shift pattern is employer- and depot-specific.
Is the salary on this page guaranteed?
No. The figures are indicative gross benchmarks for the UK market. Actual gross salary depends on location, shift pattern, experience, responsibility scope and allowances.

Related roles in Logistics & Warehousing

Back to sector list