Director, Transportation Safety and DOT Compliance

Pilot Company•Knoxville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Transportation Safety and DOT Compliance provides enterprise-level leadership for transportation safety, regulatory compliance, and fleet risk management. This role requires comprehensive expertise in DOT and transportation safety regulations, strong commercial and operational awareness, and the ability to lead through multiple layers of management. The Director is accountable for departmental performance, regulatory outcomes, and the development of safety strategies that reduce risk, protect people and assets, and support business results. This role has broad organizational impact, influencing senior leadership, guiding enterprise safety strategy, and developing multi-year roadmaps to achieve sustained compliance, performance improvement, and a culture of safety excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Transportation, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
8–12+ years of progressive experience in transportation safety, preferably in fuel, hazmat, or large fleet operations
Deep knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and compliance requirements
Proven ability to lead safety programs across a multi-site or national operation
Strong analytical skills with experience using safety data to drive decisions
Demonstrated leadership and team development experience

Nice To Haves

Certified Safety Professional (CSP), CDS, or similar certification
Experience with hazardous materials transportation and PHMSA regulations
Experience with telematics, ELD systems, and safety technology platforms

Responsibilities

Maintains a comprehensive understanding of transportation safety principles, DOT/FMCSA/PHMSA regulations, and fleet safety best practices.
Serves as the enterprise subject matter expert for transportation safety and DOT compliance.
Ensures consistent execution of driver qualification, hours of service, vehicle inspection and maintenance, drug and alcohol programs, hazardous materials compliance (as applicable), and related regulatory requirements.
Applies broad industry knowledge and regulatory expertise to align safety initiatives with business objectives and operational performance.
Partners with executive and operational leadership to integrate safety considerations into enterprise decision-making.
Evaluates safety trends, compliance metrics, and operational data to guide prioritization, investments, and continuous improvement.
Provides leadership and direction through multiple layers of management, including regional and field safety leaders.
Accountable for department-wide performance, compliance outcomes, and measurable reductions in risk and incidents.
Develops workforce and staffing plans to ensure sufficient safety resources and capabilities.
Leads the design and implementation of forward-looking transportation safety programs and standards.
Makes final decisions on administrative and operational issues affecting transportation safety and compliance.
Directs resolution of complex, high-impact safety and regulatory issues using advanced critical thinking and investigation methods.
Oversees incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and sustained prevention efforts.
Improves complex and undefined processes related to incident management, compliance assurance, and safety performance.
Executes transportation safety functional plans and contributes to broader operational and enterprise outcomes.
Develops and maintains departmental roadmaps that define operating direction and long-term safety objectives.
Oversees internal audits, mock DOT audits, and corrective action plans to ensure regulatory readiness and compliance.
Serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies and manages responses to inspections and audits.
Leads governance and continuous improvement of transportation safety data and reporting systems.
Establishes standardized dashboards, metrics, and executive-level reporting.
Analyzes safety performance indicators, including OSHA, DOT recordables, CSA scores, accident trends, and leading indicators.
Translates complex data into actionable insights and prevention-focused strategies.
Oversees development and delivery of standardized transportation safety training programs.
Ensures onboarding and ongoing training meet regulatory and enterprise requirements.
Promotes a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous safety improvement.
Influences leaders outside of direct reporting lines on critical transportation safety matters.
Communicates effectively with senior leadership across the enterprise.
Leads regular safety performance reviews focused on outcomes, accountability, and improvement.
Delivers near-term compliance and performance targets while planning and executing 1–3 year transportation safety strategies and improvement roadmaps.
Reduction in OSHA and DOT recordable incidents
Improvement in CSA scores and audit outcomes
Increased driver engagement and safe behavior adoption
Effective implementation of prevention-based safety programs
Sustained compliance with all regulatory requirements