LTL Transportation Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

The LTL Transportation Planner is responsible for managing the execution of less-than-truckload shipments within an assigned region of the PECO pallet network. This role owns the shipment lifecycle from order creation through fulfillment and delivery, ensuring orders are planned, rated, tendered, tracked, and resolved in support of PECO’s cost, service, and customer commitments. The LTL planner works closely with inventory planning, depot operations, customer service, transportation, carriers, and field teams to balance network capacity, shipment requirements, carrier performance, and customer needs. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, proactive exception management, effective communication, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment while using multiple transportation systems and planning tools to drive accurate execution and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions:

• Daily LTL load management within specified region(s) including inbound and outbound 
• Manage LTL shipment exceptions including missed pickups, delayed deliveries, reconsignments, accessorial disputes, damages, shortages, and customer-specific delivery requirements.
• Confirm shipment details such as weight, pallet count, dimensions, freight class/NMFC requirements, appointment needs, and delivery constraints to support accurate rating and execution.

• Validate system recommended order planning and re-plan orders as necessary

• Identify opportunities to consolidate freight, optimize routing, reduce accessorial charges, and improve cost per pallet/order.

• Daily coordination with cross functional counterparts; inventory planning team, depot operations, customer service and transportation team to manage order exceptions (e.g; unable to plan, failed-to-rate, new lanes, etc.)
• Use Transportation Management System (TMS) for carrier selection, rate shopping & tender process
• Daily conference calls, one-on-one phone calls, and email communications with internal and external customers, carriers and PECO field team
• Participation and appropriate contribution to daily status calls
• Provide support for team lead, and coverage for other transportation planners, as needed
• Ability to flex work-hours to support PECO customer requirements

Key Competencies for Success:  

• Strong understanding of LTL carrier operations, including terminal networks, pickup windows, transit times, accessorial charges, and service limitations.
• Ability to prioritize urgent shipment exceptions while managing a high-volume order queue
• Detail-oriented approach to freight data accuracy, especially weights, quantities, lanes, rates, and delivery requirements.
• Ability to learn and effectively use multiple web-based systems and planning tools (Red Link, TMS/Mercury Gate, Sharepoint, power BI etc.)
• Responsive, clear, professional communication skills
• Collaborative team member, ability to resolve problems and overcome constraints while working within a cross functional team-oriented environment
• Comfortable taking a leadership role when working problem resolution with a cross functional team
• Able to use data to guide, validate critical decisions pertaining to cost and service
• Continuous improvement mindset; pursue incremental improvements to existing processes, identify/implement standard work, embrace ownership of your region of responsibility and drive continuous improvement via projects and/or collaborative engagement

Qualifications: 

• Four-year degree preferred

• 3+ years of experience in a transportation, logistics, supply chain position with similar functions, ideally within the LTL industry

• Experience with LTL rating, dispatch, carrier portals, shipment tracking, and exception management preferred.
• Familiarity with freight terms, accessorials, claims processes, delivery appointments, liftgate/residential/limited access requirements, and carrier service standards.
• Experience with Microsoft office suite particularly MS excel, MS Word and Powerpoint
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Experience with carrier or fleet management a plus
• Analytical problem solving skills and data driven decision making
• Adept at time management, balancing independent work time with team meetings and projects

Environment/Physical Demands:  

• Office environment
• Please see attachment

T ravel:

• < 10%, field visits to PECO depot or customers 1 to 2 times annually

PECO Pallet Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PECO celebrates our continuous journey pursuing diversity through inclusion and empowerment of our employees to shape the future of the company and deliver our pillars of Quality and Service to all customers.