“You’re setting me up to fail.”
“You give those loads to your favorite drivers, don’t you?”
“You purposely don’t give me high-paying loads.”
Driver managers at trucking companies across the country have all heard the phrases above from drivers who were frustrated about their pay and the loads they’d been hauling. Maybe you’ve even said one or two of these phrases yourself.
Here’s the catch: often at large carriers, driver managers aren’t even the ones planning the loads. A load planner takes care of that.
In the trucking world, load planners play a pivotal role in ensuring freight moves efficiently while supporting drivers' success. But what exactly do they do, and how do their efforts impact drivers on the road? Understanding the load planner’s point of view can help everyone work together a little better.
As a load planner myself in the van division at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), I’ll break it down for you:
A load planner is a logistics professional who works behind the scenes in the trucking industry to coordinate freight assignments. Their main responsibility is to ensure that the right loads are matched with the right drivers, balancing factors like location, timing, and profitability. Load planners strive to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime for drivers while meeting customer needs. They also analyze schedules, routes, and operational constraints to create plans that optimize productivity and earnings for both the drivers and the company.
At its core, a load planner’s job is to find the best solution for both the driver and the customer. This balancing act involves matching the right freight with the right driver, considering factors like proximity, Hours of Service (HOS), and profitability.
The dual responsibility of working to make the trucking carrier and the driver money requires careful coordination of available trucks and freight to ensure timely pickups and deliveries while optimizing profitability for both drivers and the company. In a nutshell: It’s not an easy job!
A typical day includes reviewing planning boards to see which trucks are available and where, then matching them with loads based on factors like location, timing, and the driver’s on-time delivery history. For high-priority customers, load planners prioritize reliable drivers to maintain strong relationships and meet service expectations.
Load planners aim to provide drivers with loads that work the best in their schedule and increase their profitability.
Contrary to some misconceptions, load planners aren’t cherry-picking loads for certain drivers or trying to make drivers lose money. Their primary goal is to set drivers up for success. In fact, their success as a load planner is dependent upon your success as a driver!
Here are some of the ways they help drivers like you:
Load planners strive to assign loads that maximize a driver’s earnings. It’s not uncommon for load planners to be incentivized in their roles. This means the more the driver earns, the more they earn.
Load planners often create a roadmap for drivers’ weeks, stacking multiple loads to ensure continuous work and predictable income. This planning involves analyzing available HOS and mapping out executable routes, giving drivers a clear picture of their earning potential for the week.
By efficiently matching trucks to loads, load planners reduce idle time and ensure drivers aren’t left high and dry after delivering a load. They keep you moving.
Load planners collaborate with driver managers to ensure seamless communication and problem-solving. If a driver manager is unavailable, planners step in to update drivers on changes or provide critical information. Not only does this provide you with the support you need, but it also keeps you moving.
One common misunderstanding is that load planners deliberately assign less profitable loads to certain drivers. In reality, decisions are made based on timing and availability. A lot of times, it’s first-come, first-served. When better freight is available, the timing of a driver’s delivery might mean another truck is better positioned to take advantage of it.
Planners also emphasize the importance of driver reliability. A strong track record for on-time deliveries and effective trip planning makes it easier to match a driver with high-priority loads. For example, if an important customer has a tight deadline or high-value freight, load planners will look for a nearby driver with a good on-time service rate.
Load planners aim to set drivers up for success not just in the moment but for the long haul. They try to plan for success on the front end and the back end, which means considering how today’s load will position the driver for opportunities tomorrow.
Related: The importance of meeting appointment times
It’s important to remember the difference between driver managers and load planners. Driver managers provide support and assistance to drivers. While they may assign loads to drivers, they aren’t the ones planning them. That’s the job of load planners.
Learn more about the role of driver managers and how you can work together.
Load planners are more than schedulers — they’re strategic partners working behind the scenes to keep freight moving and drivers earning.
By understanding their role and perspective, drivers like you can foster a stronger working relationship and make the most of their time on the road.
Load planners are all about efficiency. To boost your efficiency and haul more loads, check out these articles about trip planning effectively and managing your Hours of Service.