Transport Planner

Permanent

Thekweni

Overview We are a Supply Chain and Sales & Merchandising partner adding value to your business through a fully integrated, temperature-controlled network in Southern Africa.

But we are also more than that. We are people serving people. While we boast the best in tech and infrastructure, our people are our greatest resource. With our skilled, curious, can-do people at the forefront, our assets become your assets, our service your solutions.

Vector’s vehicle fleet includes a food industry first in ‘multi-temperature’ vehicles enabling the company to service business across frozen, chilled and ambient temperature zones on a single delivery.

Job Purpose To develop and manage daily transport plans that balance service delivery with operational efficiency, while supporting vehicle tracking and resolving day-to-day operational queries. The role provides critical planning support to ensure effective fleet utilisation and a high level of customer service. In addition, the role manages principal customer logistics requirements at both operational and depot level.

Transport Planning & Scheduling

• Develop daily route plans to ensure optimal productivity and service delivery.
• Deliver route plans to depots or PBCS’s within agreed timelines.
• Ensure planning is aligned with prescribed operational KPIs.
• Review special delivery requests, update temporary master data, assess feasibility, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders.
• Engage regional DC leadership teams or PBCSs to validate routing plans and ensure operational alignment.
• Compile and issue daily final schedules, including:

Special requests

Startup times

KPI achievement

High-risk routes

Fleet requirements (owned and hired)

Analyse previous day routes to compare plan vs actual and clearly identify variances.

Fleet Utilisation & Capacity Management

• Maximise utilisation of the secondary fleet and or Unitrans fleet.
• Review fleet availability daily and fully understand constraints.
• Align next-day orders with available fleet capacity.
• Prioritise owned fleet usage over hired fleet.
• Determine hired fleet requirements where necessary.
• Communicate daily fleet requirements (drivers, VAs, and vehicles) clearly to depots.
• Conduct monthly fleet utilisation analysis by DC and implement corrective actions where required.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor plan vs actual performance daily:

Categorise Variances Into Master data issues

Ad-hoc events

One-off incidents

Analytical improvement opportunities

• Conduct root cause analysis on deviations and embed learnings into planning systems.
• Maintain ongoing feedback with the Routing and Scheduling Controller on master data changes.
• Perform regular Turnaround Time (TAT) and travel speed analysis.

Expediting & Execution Control

• Manage daily expediting operations across assigned transport hubs.
• Track live execution in communication with expeditors.
• Identify risks early and communicate delays to customers and sales teams.
• Maintain a redelivery register and plan accordingly.

People Leadership

• Lead and manage a team and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation and collective agreements.
• Manage attendance, overtime, and leave.

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement Generate Daily And Monthly Reports On Plan vs actual

Fleet utilisation

Service levels

Financial performance

Prepare monthly efficiency reports and present to depot leadership.

Provide updates on corrective actions and process improvements.

Maintain Strong Communication Channels Between Planning

Depots

Sales

Customers

Master Data Management

• Maintain accurate planning and routing master data.
• Produce weekly master data quality reports.
• Champion customer onboarding processes.

Financial & KPI Accountability

• The role directly supports delivery against: Fleet utilisation targets Route profitability Customer hit rates Delivery adherence Service levels Budget adherence Savings commitments

Qualifications, Skills And Experience Required For The Job

• 3-year Degree in Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or Management
• Honours Degree (advantageous)
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in FMCG or transport operations

Skills and Competencies

• Transport planning principles
• FMCG logistics
• Customer operations
• Telemetry / vehicle tracking
• Master data management
• Transport KPIs
• Financial interpretation of operational data

Vector Logistics supports the principles of Employment Equity and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Preference will be given to candidates from designated groups in line with our Employment Equity Plan.

If you have not heard from us within 3 to 4 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion. We truly appreciate your interest in joining the Vector team and encourage you to stay connected for future opportunities that may align with your skills and career journey.

We look forward to hearing from you!