Manager of Outbound Freight

BELL LUMBER & POLE COMPANY LLC•New Brighton, MN

8d•$100,000 - $120,000

About The Position

Bell Lumber & Pole is seeking a driven, strategic, and hands-on Manager of Outbound Freight to lead outbound transportation operations across truckload and less-than-truckload carriers, rail, transloading, and international import/export. The role owns freight strategy and execution, ensuring shipments move safely, efficiently, and on time. It involves building carrier partnerships, optimizing transportation costs, protecting freight margins, developing key customer relationships, and delivering an exceptional customer experience. The Manager combines strategic planning with hands-on leadership, continuous improvement, and accountability for operational performance and profitability. The role works collaboratively with internal teams and customers while supporting Bell’s mission and values, including responsible stewardship of resources and entrepreneurial thinking. The employee may also be asked to perform other duties and assume additional responsibilities to meet the organization’s needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant operational experience.
At least 5 years of progressive experience in freight management, dispatch, or outbound logistics.
Proficiency with transportation management systems (TMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) software such as SAP or Oracle, and routing or dispatch tools.
Solid understanding of international shipping regulations, Incoterms 2020, customs compliance, and export procedures.
Advanced Excel and analytical skills for data modeling, carrier scorecarding, and cost reporting.
Strong negotiation and carrier management capabilities.
Outstanding communication and key account management skills.
Strong crisis-management capabilities and agility in fast-paced operational environments.

Nice To Haves

Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD), or Customs Specialist certification.
Direct experience in bulk or industrial commodities, or multimodal timber, wood, or heavy-freight handling.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily dispatch operations for truckload and less-than-truckload carriers, including routing, load consolidation, and equipment availability.
Direct outbound rail shipping strategy, fleet and car management, rail spot placement, and transload facility operations for wood and steel pole shipments.
Oversee cross-border and international shipments by ocean, air, rail, and trucking, including customs compliance, export documentation, and port and terminal workflows.
Negotiate with carriers and manage spot-market bidding and contracted rate structures to maintain and grow freight margins.
Analyze freight costs, accessorial fees, detention and demurrage charges, and fuel surcharges to identify savings and protect profitability.
Work with Finance to review and approve freight invoices, ensure adherence to contracted rates, and resolve disputes promptly.
Serve as the primary logistics contact for key client accounts, conduct regular reviews, and align freight strategies with client service-level agreements.
Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service to provide shipping visibility, proactive updates, and timely issue resolution.
Escalate and resolve delivery delays, freight damage claims, rerouting requests, and customs holds.
Monitor and improve on-time delivery (OTD) across transportation modes through root-cause analysis and carrier scorecarding.
Establish, track, and report operational metrics, including carrier acceptance rates, transit times, freight cost per unit or ton, and customer satisfaction.
Identify bottlenecks in dispatch, transloading, and documentation and implement lean standard operating procedures.
Achieve and maintain OTD targets, including 95–98% standard performance and 99% for key customers.
Maintain target gross freight margins and achieve annual cost-reduction targets.
Maintain primary and secondary carrier tender acceptance rates and minimize reliance on the spot market.
Meet or exceed key customer shipping and communication service-level agreements.
Minimize non-standard logistics charges across rail, ocean, and motor carriers.
Perform other duties and assume additional responsibilities as needed or requested.