Manager Fleet & Transportation Strategy

Border States • Fargo, ND

1d

About The Position

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work. This position will be located in: Fargo, ND  
Application Deadline: January 23, 2026.
Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.Job SummaryThe Manager Fleet & Transportation Strategy provides strategic leadership for national fleet and transportation operations, overseeing a significant asset base of power units and forklifts. This role is responsible for optimizing the entire logistics network, integrating advanced freight strategy, robust carrier performance management, and comprehensive asset lifecycle planning to deliver efficient, compliant, and world-class order fulfillment. This position is key to driving service level improvements, substantial cost optimization, and supply chain resiliency while ensuring rigorous compliance with DOT, Hazmat, and international trade regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field. Master's degree or relevant certification (e.g., CTP, CSCP) preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in fleet operations and freight management, preferably in a national B2B or wholesale distribution environment.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team of direct or functional reports/analysts.
• Expert-level negotiation, vendor management, and data-driven analytical skills required.
• Deep knowledge of transportation regulations (DOT, FMCSA) and compliance fundamentals, particularly Hazmat and general knowledge about international trade compliance (CTPAT, ACE).
• Expert proficiency in Microsoft 365, Enterprise-level TMS (Transportation Management System), telematics platforms, SAP or similar ERP, and BI tools (Tableau/Power BI).

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree or relevant certification (e.g., CTP, CSCP)

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes high-impact transportation and freight strategies across all modes (parcel, LTL, TL, dedicated fleet), focusing on maximizing service levels (NPS) while driving down cost-per-mile.
• Manages the entire fleet asset lifecycle for power units and forklifts and trailers plus containers, including data-driven specification, acquisition/lease, utilization optimization, preventive maintenance program oversight, warranty/repairs, and timely remarketing.
• Leads high-stakes carrier sourcing and contract negotiations; proactively manage vendor performance to enforce rigorous service level agreements (SLAs), claims processes, and cost control.
• Leverages advanced Transportation Management Systems (TMS), telematics, and Business Intelligence (BI) tools to optimize network design, routing, and load planning, improving on-time delivery metrics.
• Directs maintenance programs, fuel management, and actively pilot alternative-fuel (Alt-Fuel) and Electric Vehicle (EV) strategies to meet corporate sustainability goals. Leads compliance efforts for all DOT and Hazmat regulations in close partnership with the Safety and the Legal teams.
• Defines, publishes, and drives improvement against critical operational and carrier performance KPIs, including uptime, cost/mile, MPG, on-time delivery percentage, and claims ratio analysis.
• Develops and manages the transportation and fleey budgets, supports the claims process as needed, and supports the audit freight invoices to ensure financial accuracy and control.
• Collaborates strategically with Operations, Sales, Finance, and Compliance teams to align logistics performance with overall business objectives and customer delivery expectations.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or other designate.
• Coordinates ACE eManifest readiness and customs documentation with carriers and brokers for border compliance, as needed.
• Supports trade compliance initiatives (USMCA, CTPAT) in partnership with compliance leadership.

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
• FSA & HSA
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Disability Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Personal Leave time and more!
• Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees