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Road haulage load planner
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£16,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
As a load planner, you would control the transfer of freight around the country. It would be your job to make sure goods are moved in the most efficient way, taking into account schedules, costs, and health and safety.
You might work for a road haulage company or other businesses with their own fleet of vehicles, such as retail chains.
Your job would involve:
- deciding how many vehicles will be needed to deliver each shipment of goods
- working out how much it will cost to make each delivery
- planning the safest way to load and unload goods
- monitoring each delivery as it makes its journey
- reviewing load plans with clients
- making back-up plans to cover changes in circumstances.
You may use computer software packages to help with some of these tasks, for example, to match the size of loads with the vehicles needed to move them.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would often work shifts on a rota, including early mornings and late nights.
You would normally be based in an office within a warehouse or haulage depot.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £16,000 and £19,000 a year.
- This can rise to between £20,000 and £28,000 for senior positions.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You do not need any particular qualifications to start work as a trainee load planner, although employers will ask for a good standard of general education andsome employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths.
Experience of working in transport or distribution will give you an advantage when looking for work. A background in stock control or administration could also be useful.
You may be able to get into this career through an Apprenticeship scheme with a road haulage firm. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers.
To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit the Apprenticeships website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are employed, you would normally receive on-the-job training, and you could be asked to work towards a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in National or International Road Haulage.
You could also complete the Logistics Operations qualification at level 3.
See the Skills for Logistics website for more details about training options.
You could improve your career prospects by taking the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications – see the CILT UK website for details of colleges and distance learning options.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- good customer service and communication skills
- problem solving skills and the ability to adapt plans
- computer skills
- the ability to work flexibly within a team
- good negotiating skills
- the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Skills for Logistics 
12 Warren Yard
Warren Farm Office Village
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
Tel: 01908 313360
www.skillsforlogistics.org
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK)
Logistics and Transport Centre
Earlstrees Court
Earlstrees Road
Corby
Northants
NN17 4AX
Tel: 01536 740104
www.ciltuk.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You could be employed by haulage, removal and courier firms, as well as the distribution departments of large companies.
In larger organisations, you may be able to progress to senior or regional load planner. With further qualifications, you could move into distribution, supply chain or transport management.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The road haulage industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; wholesaling; storage and warehousing; freight forwarding; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
Road haulage is the distribution, movement and supply of goods by road. Road haulage, which includes removal services, is the third largest industry in the logistics sector. The amount of freight that was moved in the UK increased by 46% between 1980 and 2007. The majority of the increase is due to goods being moved by road.
Key facts:
- 13% of the logistics sector workforce is within freight transport by road.
- Road haulage now accounts for 68% of all goods moved compared with 53% in 1980.
- A total of 220,000 people are employed in UK road haulage in the UK, which is estimated to be 13% of the entire logistics sector workforce.
- There are 34,000 road haulage workplaces in the UK.
- Freight transport by road employs the smallest proportion of women and people with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background than other logistics industries.
- 12% of the industry workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: LGV driver, LGV training instructor, distribution manager, removals worker, road transport manager, van driver, transport planner, transport scheduler, road haulage load planner, drivers mate, supply chain manager, operations manager, yard person, training manager, marketing co‐ordinator, operations director, freight account manager, financial planning manager, general manager.
National and regional data
East Midlands – Of the 156,600 employees working in logistics businesses in the East Midlands, 20,600 work in road haulage. This equates to 13% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.
East of England – Of the 186,700 employees working in logistics businesses in the East of England, 28,100 of these individuals work in road haulage. This is 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – Of the 178,800 employees working in logistics businesses in London, 8,900 work in road haulage. This accounts for 5% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North East – Of the 55,000 people employed in logistics businesses in the region, 9,900 people are employed in road haulage. This is 18% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – Of the 193,400 people working in logistics businesses in the North West, 31,300 people are employed in road haulage. This accounts for 16% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South East – Of the 256,300 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, the road haulage industry employs 21,800 employees. This equates to 8% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South West – Of the 135,100 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 15,700 work in road haulage. This accounts for 12% of the logistics workforce in the region.
West Midlands – Of the 187,500 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 26,100 work in road haulage. This accounts for 14% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – Of the 158,100 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 23,300 work in road haulage. This accounts for 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
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