Load Planner

Supply Chain

Job Purpose

The Load Planner is responsible for the efficient planning, scheduling and optimisation of daily transport loads to ensure the timely, cost-effective and accurate distribution of finished goods across the distribution network. The role develops optimal delivery plans that maximise vehicle utilisation, minimise transport costs and ensure customer service commitments are consistently achieved.

Working closely with the Warehouse, Fleet, Customer Service, Distribution, Sales and Transport teams, the Load Planner coordinates daily dispatch requirements, allocates deliveries to vehicles, manages route planning and proactively resolves planning constraints. The incumbent ensures transport plans are executable, aligned to operational capacity and compliant with company policies and legislative requirements.

The role contributes to operational excellence by improving fleet productivity, reducing delivery costs, maximising vehicle cube utilisation and supporting high levels of OTIF (On Time In Full) performance across the distribution network.

Key Outputs & Responsibilities

Transport Planning & Load Optimisation

• Develop daily transport plans based on customer orders, delivery priorities and operational requirements.
• Plan efficient vehicle loads that maximise vehicle cube and weight utilisation while complying with legal transport limits.
• Consolidate customer deliveries to minimise transport costs and maximise fleet productivity.
• Optimise delivery sequences to reduce travel time, empty kilometres and unnecessary route deviations.
• Ensure transport plans align with warehouse picking and loading schedules.
• Balance workloads across the available fleet to maximise operational efficiency.
• Continuously review transport plans and adjust to changing operational requirements.

Route Planning & Scheduling

• Prepare efficient delivery routes considering geography, customer delivery windows, traffic conditions and operational constraints.
• Schedule vehicles according to fleet availability and driver hours.
• Ensure delivery routes comply with transport legislation and company standards.
• Coordinate route changes where operational disruptions occur.
• Monitor route efficiency and recommend improvements.
• Support implementation of route optimisation initiatives and technologies.

Dispatch Coordination

• Coordinate daily dispatch activities with Warehouse Operations.
• Ensure all planned deliveries are correctly loaded and dispatched.
• Verify vehicle allocation prior to dispatch.
• Resolve dispatch bottlenecks proactively.
• Ensure urgent customer orders are incorporated into transport plans.
• Support effective communication between Warehouse, Drivers and Customer Service.

Fleet Utilisation

• Maximise utilisation of company and contracted fleet resources.
• Monitor fleet capacity against daily demand.
• Allocate vehicles according to product type, load profile and delivery requirements.
• Recommend additional transport capacity when operational demand exceeds available fleet.
• Minimise empty return trips wherever possible.
• Improve fleet productivity through efficient planning.

Customer Service Support

• Ensure delivery plans support agreed customer service levels.
• Prioritise urgent customer requirements where operationally feasible.
• Coordinate delivery changes with Customer Service.
• Minimise late deliveries through proactive planning.
• Communicate delivery risks to relevant stakeholders.
• Support achievement of OTIF targets.

Operational Planning

• Coordinate daily planning meetings with Warehouse and Logistics teams.
• Identify operational constraints before dispatch.
• Monitor order volumes against available transport capacity.
• Plan around production changes where required.
• Support contingency planning during peak periods.
• Assist with business continuity planning during transport disruptions

Systems & Administration

• Maintain accurate transport planning data within SAP, TMS or planning systems.
• Ensure transport documentation is complete and accurate.
• Maintain daily planning schedules.
• Update route and customer master data where required.
• Generate dispatch documentation.
• Ensure planning records are maintained for audit purposes.

Cost Optimisation

• Reduce transport costs through efficient load planning.
• Minimise overtime resulting from poor planning.
• Monitor transport productivity.
• Reduce unnecessary vehicle movements.
• Improve delivery density across routes.
• Support initiatives aimed at lowering logistics cost per case.

Reporting & Analysis

• Produce daily, weekly and monthly transport planning reports.
• Monitor KPIs including: Vehicle utilisation, Load utilisation, OTIF, Delivery productivity, Route efficiency, Fleet capacity utilisation
• Analyse trends and recommend operational improvements.
• Support management reporting.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve transport planning processes.
• Recommend route optimisation initiatives.
• Participate in Supply Chain improvement projects.
• Support implementation of new planning systems.
• Drive standardisation of transport planning practices.
• Promote best practice throughout logistics operations.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective relationships with Warehouse Operations, Distribution, Fleet, Customer Service and Sales.
• Coordinate effectively with Drivers and Fleet Supervisors.
• Liaise with third-party transport providers where applicable.
• Communicate planning changes proactively.
• Escalate operational risks timeously.
• Support cross-functional collaboration across the Supply Chain.

Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety & Environmental Responsibilities

• Adhere to all Quality, Food Safety, Health, Safety and Environmental policies.
• Ensure transport planning complies with legal transport and food safety requirements.
• Support SHEQ initiatives throughout logistics operations.
• Promote safe transport practices.
• Maintain high housekeeping and documentation standards.
• Participate in all required training and compliance programmes.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Certificate or Diploma in Logistics, Supply Chain or Transport Management (advantageous).
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office).
• SAP, TMS or ERP exposure.
• Good numerical ability.

Ideal Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Supply Chain Management.
• Degree in Logistics Management.
• Transport Planning qualification.
• SAP Certification.
• Route Optimisation software training.
• Lean or Continuous Improvement qualification.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 3 years' experience within logistics, transport planning or distribution.
• Experience planning daily deliveries.
• Experience within FMCG distribution.
• Experience working with Warehouse Operations.
• Experience using ERP systems.
• Experience coordinating transport schedules.

Ideal Experience

• Beverage industry experience.
• Experience managing large regional distribution networks.
• Experience using route optimisation software.
• Exposure to national transport planning.
• Experience working within unionised operational environments.
• Experience using telematics and fleet systems.

Core Competencies

• Transport Planning
• Route Optimisation
• Load Optimisation
• Fleet Utilisation
• Distribution Planning
• SAP / ERP Systems
• Transport Management Systems
• Customer Service
• Analytical Thinking
• Data Analysis
• Scheduling
• Cost Optimisation
• Stakeholder Management
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Communication
• Operational Planning
• Continuous Improvement
• Attention to Detail
• Results Orientation

Behavioural Competencies

Planning and Organising: Plans and coordinates transport activities effectively, ensuring resources are utilised efficiently while meeting customer delivery commitments.

Analytical Thinking: Analyses transport data, operational constraints and delivery trends to develop practical and cost-effective transport solutions.

Customer Focus: Demonstrates a commitment to meeting customer service expectations through accurate planning and reliable delivery execution.

Problem Solving: Identifies operational risks early and implements practical solutions to minimise service disruption and maintain delivery performance.

Communication: Communicates effectively with Warehouse Operations, Fleet, Customer Service, Drivers and Management to ensure seamless execution of transport plans.

Collaboration: Builds productive working relationships across Supply Chain functions to achieve shared operational objectives.

Accountability: Takes ownership for transport plans, delivery performance and planning accuracy while ensuring operational targets are consistently achieved.

Adaptability: Responds positively to changing priorities, production changes, customer requirements and operational disruptions while maintaining service levels.

Continuous Improvement: Continuously seeks opportunities to improve transport efficiency, reduce costs and enhance planning processes.

Results Orientation: Delivers measurable improvements in transport productivity, fleet utilisation, OTIF performance and overall logistics efficiency.

Contact information

RoAnn Sampson