Freight Forwarding Estimator & Load Planner Specialist

About the role

Africa Global Logistics South Africa (AGL) is hiring a permanent Estimator & Load Planner Specialist Controller for its freight forwarding operations in Johannesburg. The role covers all-round estimations of project and normal cargo across the entire corridor, including multi-modal disciplines such as sea, air, road, projects, breakbulk, bulk and out-of-gauge. It involves compiling load plans, visiting customers, vendors and manufacturers to assess cargo weights, and ensuring estimates and load plans are completed and submitted on time.

Key responsibilities

• Negotiate road, sea and air freight rates with suppliers and analyse them for the best price and quality
• Generate and submit estimates within approved rates and deadlines, and monitor tender success
• Source rates and send accurate estimates to clients and agents, focusing on road freight while covering all transport modes
• Register quotes and outcomes weekly in the quotation module and update rate sheets with quotes from sales and transporters
• Compile tenders for projects and hand over new business to operations with complete documentation
• Maintain regular client communication, keep contact details current and assist external sales in identifying suitable hauliers
• Keep records of rates for maximum mark-ups, update operations with shipping lines and buy rates, and follow up on accepted, in-progress, lost and sent quotations
• Complete required reporting and perform other reasonable tasks assigned by the manager

Required profile

• Matric
• 5 years of hands-on experience in road freight transport brokering or planning, freight estimates and operations
• Freight forwarding experience in estimates is essential
• Experience in road freight brokering, including flat deck, tautliner and abnormal transport
• Strong knowledge of route planning, load scheduling and abnormal cargo movement requirements
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and communicate well with transporters, customers and leadership

Required skills

• MS Office
• Specialized transport and logistics management software
• Solid understanding of logistics and fleet management practices
• Ability to analyse and compute optimum load plans for project cargo