Intermodal Operations Planner

Job Summary: 

The Intermodal Operations Planner is responsible for the end-to-end management of intermodal shipments across rail and drayage networks. This position ensures the highest levels of service, visibility, equipment utilization, and cost control throughout the transportation life cycle. The role requires proactive coordination with rail carriers, drayage providers, customers, terminals, and internal stakeholders to manage shipment execution, equipment flows, transit exceptions, accessorial charges, demurrage, detention, and dispute resolution.
The Intermodal Operations Planner must identify, address, and resolve in-transit issues while maintaining accurate shipment visibility, optimizing asset utilization, minimizing terminal dwell time, and supporting customer service objectives. This position combines operational execution, carrier management, and analytical decision-making to deliver reliable intermodal solutions.

Responsibilities: Tasks: Targets:

 

1. Intermodal Carrier & Rail Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with drayage carriers, rail carriers, terminals, and intermodal service providers.
• Monitor carrier performance, service levels, and operational compliance.
• Coordinate container movement planning from origin to destination.
• Manage rail carrier interactions regarding bookings, equipment availability, terminal restrictions, and service disruptions.
• Source drayage capacity to ensure on-time pickup and delivery.
• Escalate service concerns and develop corrective action plans with underperforming providers.
• Monitor rail service metrics and communicate service issues to internal stakeholders.
• Support network optimization initiatives through carrier and lane analysis.
• Participate in regular performance reviews with key carrier partners.

1. Rail and drayage service performance maintained at or above 95%.
2. Timely communication of all service disruptions and exceptions.
3. Carrier compliance maintained at corporate standards.
4. Continuous development of strategic carrier partnerships.

2. Equipment & Capacity Management

• Manage rail container and equipment pools.
• Monitor equipment positioning and availability across key markets.
• Coordinate equipment allocation to support customer requirements.
• Identify equipment shortages and implement recovery plans.
• Track container cycles and utilization performance.
• Support forecasting for equipment requirements based on volume trends.
• Coordinate empty container returns and repositioning activities.
• Monitor terminal inventories and container dwell times.

1.   Equipment utilization optimized across network.
2. Non-productive container dwell minimized.
3. Equipment shortages proactively identified and mitigated.

 3. Intermodal Planning & Shipment Execution 

• Plan and coordinate intermodal shipments from booking through final delivery.
• Ensure all rail bookings are completed accurately and within required timelines.
• Coordinate drayage appointments and terminal pickups.
• Monitor shipment milestones and ensure accurate system updates.
• Identify and resolve transit exceptions before service failures occur.
• Maintain shipment visibility through proactive tracking and communication.
• Coordinate contingency plans for service interruptions, rail congestion, or terminal delays.
• Ensure all operational milestones are updated in the TMS.

1. All shipments accurately tracked and updated in real time.
2. Shipment exceptions addressed within established service standards.
3. Service failures minimized through proactive intervention.

4. In-Transit Tracking & Customer Communication 

• Monitor shipment movement across rail and drayage networks.
• Perform proactive tracing and milestone verification.
• Provide timely and accurate updates to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Investigate delayed shipments and develop recovery plans.
• Maintain complete shipment documentation and audit trail.
• Support customer KPI reporting and service reviews.

1. Shipment visibility maintained throughout all shipment stages.
2. Customer inquiries resolved within established response times.
3. Accurate and complete shipment notes maintained.

5. Demurrage, Detention & Accessorial Management 

• Monitor containers approaching free-time limits.
• Actively manage terminal dwell to reduce demurrage exposure.
• Investigate and validate detention, storage, and accessorial charges.
• Track recoverable costs and ensure proper customer billing.
• Develop strategies to reduce recurring demurrage and detention expenses.
• Generate regular reporting on accessorial trends and root causes.

1. Minimize unnecessary demurrage and detention costs.
2. Ensure accurate validation and billing of all recoverable charges.
3. Continuous reduction in avoidable accessorial expenses.

6. Billing & Financial Management 

• Audit carrier invoices for accuracy.
• Validate rail freight charges, fuel surcharges, and accessorial costs.
• Ensure accurate customer invoicing.
• Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Support monthly financial reporting and cost analysis.
• Identify opportunities for operational and cost improvements.

1. High level of invoice accuracy.
2. Timely completion of billing and cost validation.
3. Reduction of preventable billing errors.

7. Rail Claims & Dispute Resolution 

• Investigate rail service failures and operational discrepancies.
• Prepare and submit rail disputes and service claims.
• Manage rail billing disputes and recovery opportunities.
• Maintain supporting documentation and claim files.
• Track claim progress through resolution.
• Collaborate with rail carriers to improve recurring issue trends.
• Assist in loss, damage, shortage, and service recovery investigations.

1. Claims and disputes submitted within required timelines.
2. Maximum recovery of eligible costs.
3. Complete documentation maintained for all disputes.

 Skills & Abilities:
 

• Minimum 2-4 years transportation, intermodal, rail, or logistics experience.
• Strong understanding of intermodal transportation operations.
• Knowledge of rail carrier networks, service schedules, and equipment flows.
• Knowledge of drayage operations and terminal processes.
• Understanding of demurrage, detention, and rail billing practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent customer service and communication abilities.
• Advanced organizational and prioritization skills.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Working knowledge of transportation management systems, Microsoft Excel, and reporting tools.
• Understanding of North American geography and freight networks.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong negotiation and dispute resolution capabilities.
• Self-starter with strong initiative and accountability.
• Post-secondary education in Transportation, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field preferred.

Work Environment:
 

• Fast-paced transportation and logistics environment.
• Requires frequent interaction with rail carriers, terminals, drayage carriers, customers, and internal departments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Collaborative team environment with minimal supervision.
• May require occasional after-hours support for service disruptions and urgent operational issues.
• Support operational escalations during rail service disruptions.
• Cross-train and provide coverage for team members.
• Participate in customer and carrier meetings when required.

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