Transportation Planner / Network Planner

We are looking for a highly organized, analytical, and proactive Transportation Planner / Network Planner to join our growing operations team.

In this role, you will be responsible for planning and optimizing transportation operations across multiple terminals, ensuring efficient driver and equipment utilization, strong service performance, and profitable network operations.

You will work closely with Dispatch, Driver Management, Maintenance, Recruiting, Training, Safety & Compliance, and Operations teams to ensure that daily and long-term transportation plans are executed efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

Route & Network Planning

• Design and implement efficient daily and weekly transportation plans across multiple terminals.
• Build and optimize routes using internal TMS and operational systems, customer TMS, and tracking systems, with the goal of minimizing empty miles and maximizing revenue per truck.
• Continuously monitor load flow, lane balance, driver Hours of Service (HOS), and overall network efficiency.
• Maintain visibility of trailer pool balances across terminals and customer locations.
• Analyze historical route data and seasonal trends to forecast volume fluctuations and proactively allocate drivers and equipment.
• Work with Operations Management to identify high-performing lanes and optimize underperforming routes.

Driver & Equipment Scheduling

• Match driver availability, qualifications, and home-terminal preferences with load assignments while ensuring fair workload distribution and compliance with required rest periods.
• Manage and update driver vacation schedules, resets, and planned downtime within the TMS.
• Review and approve or decline driver time-off requests.
• Plan trailer repositioning and equipment swaps.
• Work closely with Dispatch to anticipate coverage requirements and ensure appropriate staffing for upcoming shifts and weekends.

Operational Coordination

• Act as a central communication point between Dispatch, Driver Management, Maintenance, and other operational teams.
• Provide clear and timely communication to drivers regarding assignments, special load instructions, and operational changes.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to schedule tractor and trailer servicing while minimizing disruption to route plans.
• Partner with Recruiting, Operations, and Training teams to provide data and insights on upcoming capacity requirements and new driver lane assignments.

Performance & Data Analysis

• Monitor and report on key operational performance indicators, including on-time delivery, driver utilization, and trailer pool balance.
• Analyze lane profitability, customer volumes, cost per mile, and other operational data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Prepare weekly and monthly operational reports and present findings to leadership during planning meetings.
• Use data-driven insights to recommend operational adjustments, cost-saving initiatives, and process improvements.
• Provide feasibility and pricing analysis for selected RFP/RFQ opportunities.
• Conduct driver calls and support Driver Manager responsibilities, including verbal coaching and reporting relevant matters to HR.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure transportation plans comply with applicable FMCSA and DOT regulations, including Hours of Service (HOS) and ELD requirements.
• Collaborate with Safety and Compliance teams to identify recurring issues and implement preventive measures.
• Participate in process reviews to identify bottlenecks and improve planning workflows.
• Support special projects, including new customer onboarding, lane expansions, and terminal startups.
• Participate in cross-departmental process improvement initiatives.

Performance Metrics

Success in this role will be measured through key operational and financial performance indicators, including:

• On-Time Performance (OTP): ≥ 99.0%
• Asset Utilization – tractor/trailer ratio
• Empty Miles %
• Load Acceptance Rate – Amazon Index
• Cost per Mile
• Profit per Truck

What We’re Looking For

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in transportation, logistics, fleet management, dispatch, or network planning.
• Ability to work with TMS, transportation planning, and fleet management systems.
• Strong understanding of driver scheduling, HOS/ELD requirements, and transportation operations.
• Ability to analyze operational and financial data and turn insights into actionable decisions.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong communication and coordination skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic operational environment.
• High level of accountability and attention to detail.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate effectively with both operational teams and leadership.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take an important role in a growing transportation operation where your decisions will directly impact network efficiency, profitability, driver utilization, and customer performance.

If you are someone who enjoys solving operational challenges, working with data, optimizing transportation networks, and taking ownership of results, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and become an important part of our growing transportation team.