The Shipping Planner is responsible for planning, coordinating, and scheduling outbound shipments to ensure customer orders are delivered on time while maximizing transportation efficiency and warehouse productivity. This position works closely with Planning, Customer Service, Packaging, Inventory Control, Transportation, and Distribution Centers to prioritize shipments, optimize truck utilization, and maintain shipping schedules that support business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Shipment Planning
- Develop daily and weekly shipping schedules based on customer requirements and production availability.
- Prioritize shipments according to customer requested delivery dates and business priorities.
- Coordinate shipment releases with Packaging, Warehouse, and Transportation teams.
- Monitor shipping backlog and adjust priorities as business conditions change.
- Ensure shipments comply with customer routing guides and transportation requirements.
Transportation Coordination
- Schedule carriers and arrange transportation according to shipping plans.
- Maximize trailer utilization and consolidate shipments whenever possible.
- Coordinate with freight carriers regarding pickup appointments and delivery schedules.
- Resolve transportation issues affecting shipment performance.
- Monitor carrier performance and communicate delays.
Order Management
- Review customer orders for shipping readiness.
- Verify material availability before releasing shipments.
- Coordinate with Planning and Inventory teams to resolve shortages impacting shipments.
- Track open orders and ensure timely shipment execution.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Work closely with:
- Production Planning
- Purchasing
- Inventory Control
- Packaging
- Warehouse Operations
- Customer Service
- Transportation Providers
- Distribution Centers
- Participate in daily operational meetings to communicate shipping priorities.
SAP / System Management
- Create and manage shipment documents in SAP or ERP systems.
- Monitor shipping transactions for accuracy.
- Maintain shipment status updates.
- Generate shipping reports and performance metrics.
- Ensure accurate system data for inventory movements.
Performance Monitoring
Track and report KPIs including:
- On-Time Shipment
- On-Time Delivery
- Truck Utilization
- Shipping Schedule Adherence
- Freight Cost Performance
- Backlog
- Premium Freight
- Customer Service Level
- Daily Shipping Volume
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve shipping processes.
- Support Lean initiatives.
- Assist in reducing transportation costs.
- Improve warehouse throughput and shipping efficiency.
- Participate in root cause analysis for shipping delays.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in:
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics
- Industrial Engineering
- Business Administration
- Related field
(Equivalent experience may be considered.)
Experience
- 2–5 years in Shipping, Logistics, Transportation, or Supply Chain Planning preferred
- Manufacturing or Distribution Center experience preferred.
- Experience coordinating domestic and international shipments is a plus.
Technical Skills
- SAP (Shipping, Delivery, Transportation modules preferred)
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
- Microsoft Office Suite
- ERP systems
- Transportation Management Systems (TMS) preferred
- Data analysis and reporting
Required Competencies
- Planning and organization
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Customer focus
- Communication skills
- Decision making
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Ability to work under pressure
- Prioritization
- Adaptability
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On-Time Shipment (%)
- On-Time Delivery (%)
- Shipping Schedule Adherence (%)
- Truck Fill Rate (%)
- Trailer Utilization (%)
- Freight Cost per Shipment
- Premium Freight Cost
- Customer Service Level
- Shipping Backlog
- Daily Shipping Volume
- Order Cycle Time
Working Conditions
- Manufacturing or Distribution Center environment.
- Frequent interaction with warehouse personnel and transportation providers.
- May require occasional overtime to support operational requirements.
- Fast-paced environment with multiple daily priorities.
Success Factors
A successful Shipping Planner consistently:
- Ensures customer orders ship on time.
- Balances customer priorities with operational capacity.
- Optimizes transportation utilization and reduces freight costs.
- Maintains accurate shipment schedules and ERP data.
- Communicates proactively across departments.
- Quickly responds to changes in production, inventory, or customer demand.
- Uses data and KPIs to drive continuous improvement in shipping performance.
What We Offer:
- Career Development
- Competitive Compensation and Benefits
- Pay Transparency
Global Opportunities
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Learn More Here: https://www.dematic.com/en-us/about/careers/what-we-offer
Dematic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Logistics and Supply Chain Careers at Dematic
Chart your path! Whether you are an engineer, customer service agent, supply chain expert, or salesperson, Dematic has a role for you.
Logistics and Supply Chain Careers at Dematic
Chart your path! Whether you are an engineer, customer service agent, supply chain expert, or salesperson, Dematic has a role for you.
