What are the responsibilities and job description for the Transportation Fleet Planner position at Simmons Prepared Foods?
Purpose of the Position
Coordinates and plans fleet capacity between internal and external plants, warehouses, and distribution centers. Plots out weekly driver and equipment to ensure outstanding customer service while maximizing asset and driver utilization. Supports fleet leadership by evaluating weekly capacity and communicating the ability to cover loads back to carrier procurement.
Essential Position Responsibilities
Plans and coordinates transportation capacity. Reviews weekly orders and production schedules to determine work sequences, optimal schedules, and asset availability. Demonstrates the ability to multitask while maintaining attention to detail. Responsible for transportation forecasting for holidays and weekly arrivals. Determines importance of loads from a sequencing, scheduling, and strategic perspective.
Acts as the liaison between customer service, transportation managers/dispatchers, and carrier procurement. Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills. Effectively disseminates critical information between plants, drivers, CSR’s, and suppliers for daily load and trailer status. Troubleshoots and problem solves in a cost-effective manner. Anticipates and plans ahead in order to provide solutions to real time issues.
Supports reporting and administration processes. Supports the organization of driver’s daily paperwork including drivers pay sheets, trip sheets, and BOLS. Collects, tracks, and reports load, late, etc. KPI data to internal stakeholders
Maintains accountability for company trailers and trucks. Accountable for drivers and equipment capacity. Responsible for entering data into the system by load number, destination, total weight, temperature control and pick-up/deliver locations. Documents truck and trailer inventory.
Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.
Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.
Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.
Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property.
Travel: No travel required.
Technical Experience: 3 years of experience in transportation or 1 year of experience as a dispatcher or an equivalent amount of relevant experience considered. Software skills: Must be proficient in Microsoft Office suite. Preferred experience in maps, ADP, McLeod, Samsara, BluJay, Microsoft office and Google Documents.
Industry Experience: Preference for food processing organization.
Minimum Education: High School Diploma or equivalent. Upon employment, enrollment in LEAN, BEST 212 and other developmental opportunities for training through Simmons University is highly recommended.
Preferred Education: N/A
We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.
