Load Planner

CR England•Colton, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Load Planner manages asset utilization by dispatching and planning individual units, while maintaining customer service and fleet profitability. The role works in a fast-paced transportation environment and requires strategic planning, organization, frequent communication, and coordination with drivers, customers, Driver Managers, Service Advisors, and other department staff. The Load Planner tracks drivers, loads, receivers, and freight; handles logistical issues and urgent situations; plans future workloads; and oversees or manages freight in distribution centers. In an OTR training environment, the role also monitors trainee progress and placement and helps route trucks or solo drivers with available capacity to terminals. For team drivers, the Load Planner ensures assignments are suitable for the team and available hours. The position may include assisting, coaching, mentoring, and disciplining drivers, up to and including separation of employment. The position requires managing competing tasks and changing priorities while remaining professional, dependable, and customer-focused. The Load Planner must maintain clear communication, support safety and hours-of-service compliance, keep leadership informed of issues, and work collaboratively with supervisors and peers. The role primarily uses office equipment and computers and is performed in a well-lighted, temperature-controlled work area. The posting lists a Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule in Colton, California, while noting that extended hours, weekends, holidays, and various shifts may be required as necessary.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to conduct critical conversations with drivers.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite programs and ability to use office equipment and computers for most tasks.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to prioritize and manage time across daily and long-term tasks and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and effectively as part of a team.
Ability to exercise judgment, adapt to changing directions, and manage frequent interruptions or delays while remaining focused and professional.
Ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced transportation environment.
High sensitivity to customer service and customer retention.
Dependable, self-starting, adaptable, and able to take ownership of work processes.
Ability to maintain professionalism when communicating with drivers, customers, coworkers, and management.
Ability to speak, write, and read English well enough to communicate with people of varying education levels and capabilities.
Ability to hear normal speaking levels and receive detailed oral information, with or without correction.
Ability to sit at a desk for extended periods and work with computer equipment.
Ability to kneel, stoop, bend, push, lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to work extended hours, including weekends, holidays, and various shifts, including evening and night shifts, as necessary.
Ability to maintain sufficient visual acuity, with or without correction, to prepare and analyze data and figures, view a computer terminal, and read extensively.

Nice To Haves

Four-year degree in a related field or equivalent on-the-job work experience.
Transportation industry experience.
Knowledge of industry-used programs.

Responsibilities

Dispatch and effectively plan individual units to manage asset utilization, customer service, and fleet profitability.
Coordinate with department colleagues to maintain awareness of driver, freight, and asset availability.
Maintain frequent contact with assigned drivers and monitor call-offs, fatigue concerns, and equipment issues.
Track drivers, loads, and receivers to ensure dispatching continues as planned.
Contact drivers to arrange load swaps and handle urgent situations professionally.
Manage freight in distribution centers and plan future workload.
Coordinate with Driver Managers, Service Advisors, customers, and internal teams to resolve logistical problems and meet expectations.
Assist, coach, and mentor drivers on training and administrative matters, and identify drivers who may need additional support or disciplinary action.
In an OTR training environment, monitor trainees’ progress toward the next phase of training and placement and route trucks or solo drivers with capacity to terminals for efficiency.
Ensure loads assigned to team drivers are appropriate for the teams and their available hours.
Monitor hours of service for dispatching and compliance.
Maintain clear communication with drivers, customers, office staff, leadership, supervisors, and peers; inform company leadership of issues requiring attention.
Provide excellent customer service and support customer retention.
Follow and encourage safety rules and regulations, including hours-of-service and safe-workplace and driving practices.
Adhere to company policies and procedures and promote compliance with company standards.
Work collaboratively, prioritize daily and long-term tasks, meet deadlines, and handle multiple assignments and interruptions effectively.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Account Manager or Account Supervisor.