Load Planner - Extended Coverage Days

Primary Position Purpose: To assign freight loads to OTR drivers after hours in a manner that optimizes U.S. Xpress profitability and minimizes empty miles while servicing customer requirements for delivery and pick up times and meeting the needs of drivers. Position Functions: · Monitor AS400 and XPM systems during nights and weekends for new loads, changes to existing loads, and service exceptions. · Match loads with available drivers during off-hours, considering time sensitivity, customer priority, and driver proximity to pick up. · Reassign, unassign, or locate equipment after hours to prevent or minimize service failure impact. · Coordinate with fleet management to resolve urgent driver or equipment issues occurring outside of business hours. · Prioritize time-critical or high value freight movements and escalate potential service failures to management as required. · Communicate significant service deviations or incidents to Customer Service or Planning Manager to ensure awareness and continuity. · Provide timely responses to after-hours inquiries regarding load status, trailer availability, and operational disruptions. · Assist in locating missing trailers or repositioning equipment during off hours using AS400 system and available resources. · Execute shift plans provided by management and make decisions consistent with established SOP’s during unsupervised hours. · Monitor trailer pool requirements and report any imbalances or urgent needs identified during nights and weekends. · Document all major actions, escalations, and issues handled during coverage periods to ensure complete handoff to the daytime team. · Maintain concise and accurate communication with all stakeholders reached after hours, ensuring clear documentation in email per SOP. · Collaborate with internal extended coverage teams when necessary to maintain operational consistency during extended coverage periods. · Escalate recurring or unresolved off hours problems to management to support process improvement efforts. · Collaborate in-person with all levels of the organization to harness collective intelligence of the workforce. · Attend all in-person meetings and trainings on recent developments, goals, and objectives. Participate in such discussions by offering input and advice. · Regularly engage remotely and in-person with customers and potential customers to establish rapport, open communication, and expectations.