Carrier Manager

Winsupply•Moraine, OH

About The Position

The Carrier Manager is a leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight and day-to-day management of Carrier Relations Specialists. The role scales carrier management across the Winsupply network and ensures that partnerships with LTL, Parcel (UPS), Truckload (TL), and 3PL providers deliver value. The manager empowers the team to own carrier relationships while focusing on high-level strategy, contract negotiations, and network-wide service improvements. The position is accountable for carrier portfolio performance, direct reports’ professional development, and ongoing optimization of cost, compliance, and service outcomes for Winsupply distribution centers and local companies. Winsupply is a group of more than 670 locally owned wholesale distribution companies operating across industries including HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical. Its support services campus helps entrepreneurs succeed through finance, accounting, IT, and other back-office operations.

Requirements

At least 5 years of carrier management experience in logistics and transportation.
Deep experience managing LTL and Truckload.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Experience managing a high-volume TMS environment.
Thorough understanding of DOT regulations, carrier contracting, accessorial governance, and claims fundamentals.
Very strong interpersonal and communication skills, including exceptional verbal and written communication.
Solid understanding of supply chain transportation modes, including TL, LTL, Rail, Air, Ocean, and Parcel.
Outstanding analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines and manage multiple simultaneous communications while staying organized.

Nice To Haves

Parcel and 3PL carrier management experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business.
Prior leadership experience.
Proficiency in Power BI or similar business intelligence tools.
Customer- and carrier-facing logistics sales experience.
Multilingual ability.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Carrier Relations Specialists.
Set team KPIs for carrier performance, routing guide compliance, and issue resolution.
Audit and improve team SOPs to ensure consistent carrier management practices across the WSS network.
Lead the lifecycle of carrier agreements, including rate files, fuel programs, and SLAs.
Design and execute large-scale sourcing events and annual bid cycles for LTL, Truckload, and Parcel transportation.
Identify and implement network-wide cost-saving initiatives through mode optimization and carrier alignment.
Serve as the final escalation point for complex negotiations, freight classification disputes (NMFC), and FAK structures.
Oversee the development and enforcement of routing guides, aligning cost, service, and operational capacity.
Ensure carrier partners meet compliance standards for safety, insurance, and operating authority.
Partner with WSS Distribution Center leadership and local company owners to align transportation strategy with business needs.
Serve as functional lead for the TMS (MercuryGate/Infios), ensuring data integrity and effective EDI/API connectivity.
Use Excel and Power BI to turn transportation data into actionable executive-level insights.
Manage critical service failures and systemic carrier performance issues requiring executive-level intervention.
Be available after normal business hours for issue resolution.
Occasionally travel to interact with local companies and regional offices, or to support implementation of solutions.