Transportation Planner-onsite Role In Sacramento

Aston Carter•Sacramento, CA

8d•$41 - $41•Onsite

About The Position

The Transportation Planner – Import/Export supports international sales and freight operations by improving speed to market, reducing transportation costs, and driving continuous process improvement with global transportation providers. This role manages the performance of international freight forwarders against key performance indicators, identifies and resolves process deviations that delay inventory receipt in North American and international distribution centers and warehouses, and ensures transparent, accurate shipment milestones by leveraging business intelligence tools, SAP, and carrier portals.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years of experience with an importer or freight forwarder in a similar transportation planning or logistics role.
Proven experience with import and export operations, including ocean freight, ocean export, and ocean import.
Strong ability to translate transportation and performance data into clear action items and practical insights.
High level of organization and structure in managing multiple shipments, lanes, and deadlines.
Strong process orientation with a focus on accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to challenge the status quo and propose better ways of working.
Proficiency with SAP, SAP TM, or similar ERP and reporting tools for transportation and supply chain operations.
Excellent Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables and advanced data analysis.
Solid computer skills, including data entry and working with business intelligence and carrier portal systems.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, frequently changing environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders to achieve desired results.
Experience supporting or collaborating with supply chain, inventory planning, purchasing, and production functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience working directly with freight forwarders, carriers, and international logistics partners.
Market knowledge with a focus on ocean freight, including rate structures and service offerings.
Experience in export operations, including documentation and compliance awareness.
Background in inventory, replenishment, and schedule planning within a supply chain environment.
Familiarity with LTL shipping, bills of lading (BOL), and related transportation documentation.
Experience with Oracle or other ERP systems in addition to SAP is a plus.
Ability to handle multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail in data entry and reporting.
Strong analytical mindset to support forecasting, cost analysis, and performance management.
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across sales, logistics, and operations teams.

Responsibilities

Use SAP Transportation Management (SAP TM) or similar ERP tools to request, monitor, and schedule international shipments.
Track shipments end-to-end to ensure on-time delivery to North American and international distribution centers and warehouses.
Analyze and dissect transportation forecasts at the lane and market level, and communicate requirements clearly to freight providers.
Ensure freight forwarders execute against agreed performance KPIs and follow through on service commitments.
Optimize container utilization and manage shipment size thresholds to balance cost efficiency and service levels.
Review and approve spot rate quotes, ensuring competitiveness and alignment with budget and service expectations.
Calculate freight costs accurately and support cost control and budgeting activities.
Identify, action, and record shipment-level deviations, analyze root causes, and ensure corrective actions are implemented and consistently executed.
Monitor global and regional market developments, particularly in ocean freight, and assess their impact on the supply chain.
Leverage data from business intelligence tools and carrier portals to provide transparent, accurate shipment milestones to internal teams and freight forwarder partners.
Collaborate closely with international sales, supply chain, inventory planning, purchasing, and production teams to align transportation plans with business needs.
Support forecasting, replenishment, and schedule planning activities to maintain optimal inventory levels.
Ensure accurate documentation and data entry related to exports, ocean freight, LTL shipping, bills of lading (BOL), and other shipment records.
Continuously challenge existing processes and contribute to process improvement initiatives across the international transportation network.