Area Planner I

Hirschbach•Bedford Township, PA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Area Planner I is responsible for managing freight and equipment planning within a defined geographic region or customer segment. This role executes the day-to-day planning strategy for their area, ensuring freight moves on time, trailers are managed efficiently, and drivers are effectively utilized. Area Planner I serves as a key connection point between operations, customer service, and the extended coverage team, with accountability for service performance and planning execution in their area.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required
2+ years of experience in freight planning, dispatch, or transportation operations
Solid understanding of Hours of Service (HOS), routing, and equipment utilization
Proficiency in AS400, planning software, Microsoft Office, and analytical tools like Power BI
Strong communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or related field preferred

Responsibilities

Own the daily planning and execution strategy for a specific region or book of business under guidance from leadership
Plan and manage a workload of 400+ loads per week, meeting service and efficiency targets
Assign freight to drivers based on Hours of Service (HOS), availability, and service commitments
Monitor service performance and escalate or resolve issues related to delays, disruptions, or capacity shortages
Manage trailer pools, drop yards, and stale trailer reporting within the assigned area
Serve as the primary planning contact for internal teams supporting the region (Driver Managers, Customer Service, Sales)
Coordinate with ECT Planners to ensure seamless after-hours coverage and issue resolution
Leverage planning systems and tools (AS400, Power BI, Orbcomm, PCMiler, Manhattan) for informed decision-making
Participate in cross-functional meetings to support process improvement, cost reduction, and service enhancement initiatives
Support the onboarding and training of new or less experienced planners when requested