Transport Planning Manager jobs
Looking after a fleet of vehicles has never been a simple task, and it could be said that with the advent of technologies to simplify logistics and keep a second by second track of the vehicles, all that has happened is that new complexity has been loaded into the system. In other words, the transport planning manager is still an essential role, which is highly valued in logistics.
There are two main strands to the transport planning manager’s job: ensuring consignments are delivered on time and making the whole process as efficient as possible. Nowadays, sophisticated transport offices are kept informed of the complete status of every vehicle, and planning can take place while they are on the road, with drivers being informed of new destinations and alerted to traffic problems as they go. They will also need to make sure spaces on ferries are booked; it is keeping on top of details like this that make a successful transport planning manager.
The planning manager will also have close contact with the customers, both to inform them of the status of their deliveries and to arrange backhaul availability, for example. He or she will also need to make sure drivers are available and organise backup if drivers become unavailable through illness; likewise, should a breakdown occur, the planning manager will have to be quick thinking enough to arrange the best way to get the load delivered.
The skills required
The transport planning manager is first a planner and second a communicator, and the two roles need to work in harmony with each other. A calm person who thinks in four dimensions will be suited to the job; a day might start out looking perfectly planned out but look like a disaster movie by lunchtime due to events out of his or her control. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated an ability to cope with the stresses of such a chain of events.
The job will be extremely reliant on the company’s IT infrastructure, so computer literacy will be an absolute must for this role too.
Transport Planning Manager Jobs in Birkenhead
While Birkenhead has always lived in the shadow of the world-famous port city of Liverpool just across the Mersey, it has a maritime history that is of huge importance to the region and the nation. The town has a history of shipbuilding, and although the industry has had its ups and downs, with particular lows in the 1980s, it seems to be on the up again, with the Cammell Laird shipyard getting back up to speed after collapse and buy-out. The shipyard has an illustrious history, being the birthplace of HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Ark Royal (the 1938 incarnation) and RMS Mauretania to name but a few. The famous Mersey ferry (actually three boats) sails from Birkenhead to Liverpool daily.
Although the town of Birkenhead is home to just over 80,000 people, it forms part of a sprawling conurbation along the east of the Wirral Peninsula that takes in New Brighton, Bebington, Wallasey and, of course, Tranmere. Taken together, the population is well over 300,000, the size of a small city.
Luckily, the ferry isn’t the only way across the Mersey. Two road tunnels and a rail tunnel connect Birkenhead to Liverpool, which in combination with the M53 running up the spine of the Wirral, make it a particularly well connected town. This large population and the re-emerging shipyard make Birkenhead a good place to look for Transport Planning Manager jobs in the North West of England.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Cast UK’s recruitment consultants work with a host of employers around the UK to ensure positions are filled by the best people, and many of them approach us to create a shortlist rather than advertising jobs nationally or locally. We have specialists for every UK region and all the major cities, so wherever you are, we could have a position for you.
Whether you're moving house, looking to change employer or are simply seeking a change in career, get in touch with Cast UK. Our own staff are all source from within procurement, logistics and supply chain, and these are the backgrounds of our founder members, so we fully understand the needs of the industry.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Transport Planning Manager for your business or find you a job as a Transport Planning Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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