Director of Transport Operations

JERNIGAN•Ahoskie, NC

22d•Onsite

About The Position

Jernigan Oil Transport, Inc. delivers gasoline and diesel fuel to convenience stores, and commercial and industrial businesses across our operating markets. We are looking for a Director of Transport Operations to lead our Fuel Transport divisions daily operations — ensuring every delivery is completed safely, on time, and in full compliance with all applicable regulations. This role owns dispatching operations end-to-end and serves as the central point of communication between customers, dispatchers, and drivers. The Director of Transport Operations operates as a peer to other department leaders — Safety & Compliance, Payroll/HR, and Billing (AP/AR) — and works closely with each of them to keep the transport division running smoothly. This is a demanding, always-on leadership role. Fuel transport operates around the clock, and this position requires availability nights, weekends, and holidays as operational needs arise. This is an on-site position based in Ahoskie, NC and is not eligible for remote work; however, the nature of the role means work regularly extends beyond the office — including dispatching and answering calls from home outside business hours and traveling to meet customers and drivers in the field, as well as visiting terminals and garages.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in transportation/logistics operations, with prior experience in fuel, petroleum, or hazmat transport strongly preferred.
3+ years of experience directly managing dispatch or transportation teams, including multi-location or multi-market oversight.
Working knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and hazmat regulations relevant to petroleum transport.
Experience with dispatch/TMS software, fleet tracking, and telematics systems.
Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration (safety, HR/payroll, billing, sales).
Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound decisions under time pressure.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with experience coaching and developing team leads.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Inatechs TechOil Dispatch/Delivery software and Motive (asset tracking, in-cab cameras, and ELDs) is a plus.
Familiarity with Paycom or similar HR/payroll platforms is a plus, given close coordination with the Payroll/HR department.

Responsibilities

Own overall responsibility for daily dispatch operations across all operating markets (Chesapeake, Richmond, Selma, and Fayetteville).
Ensure delivery schedules are met, routes are optimized, and fleet capacity is used efficiently across convenience store, commercial, and industrial accounts.
Monitor real-time operations and resolve service disruptions — supply shortages, equipment breakdowns, weather events, or staffing gaps — to keep deliveries on track.
Establish and track key performance metrics (on-time delivery rate, cost per mile, fleet utilization, accident/incident frequency) and report regularly to leadership.
Directly manage Lead Dispatchers across all operating markets (Chesapeake/Richmond and Selma/Fayetteville) and oversee all Support Dispatchers.
Set clear performance expectations, coach and develop dispatch staff, and address performance issues promptly and fairly.
Build a strong daily communication rhythm between dispatch, drivers, customers, and other vendor partners to keep operations aligned.
Recruit, onboard, and train dispatch personnel as the team grows; also responsible for recruiting and hiring drivers, which may include traveling to meet prospective candidates.
Partner closely with the Safety & Compliance department to uphold DOT, FMCSA, and hazmat regulatory standards, and to build a strong safety-first culture across the dispatch and driver teams.
Work with Payroll/HR on driver scheduling, hours-of-service compliance, staffing needs, and personnel issues.
Coordinate with AP/AR (Billing) to ensure accurate, timely invoicing tied to completed deliveries and to resolve any delivery-related billing discrepancies.
Serve as a key liaison with Sales/Customer-facing teams to align delivery commitments with operational capacity.
Ensure all dispatch and delivery practices comply with DOT, FMCSA, hazmat transport regulations, and internal safety policies.
Support incident response and investigation processes (spills, leaks, accidents) in partnership with the Director of Safety & Compliance.
Promote a culture where drivers and dispatchers can report safety concerns or near-misses without fear of blame.