Operations Specialist - Drayage

Scout Freight•Dalton, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As an Operations Specialist supporting Drayage, you will manage the full lifecycle of container moves – from booking and dispatching drayage carriers to tracking containers through pickup, delivery, and return. This role is the foundation of our drayage operations, combining carrier coordination, port and rail ramp scheduling, and customer communication. You'll play a critical role in keeping containers moving on time, minimizing detention and demurrage exposure, and building strong relationships with trucking partners, terminals, and customers.

Requirements

2+ years of drayage, intermodal, logistics, or related industry experience (dispatch, terminal operations, or customer service transferable).
Strong communication and negotiation skills
Comfort working against tight port and rail cutoffs
Attention to detail when tracking containers, chassis, and appointments.
Working knowledge of drayage and intermodal operations, including port and rail ramp processes.
Ability to thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced environment with frequent deadline pressure.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing multiple containers and appointments simultaneously.
Persistent and proactive in preventing detention, demurrage, and per diem charges before they occur.
Adaptability to changing terminal conditions, chassis availability, and customer priorities.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree preferred, though not required; equivalent work experience in drayage, intermodal, or logistics operations is valued.

Responsibilities

Container and load coordination involves booking and dispatching drayage carriers for import and export container moves, matching available capacity to customer pickup and delivery windows.
Port and rail ramp scheduling requires securing and managing terminal appointments, monitoring vessel and rail ramp availability, and adjusting plans around cutoffs, congestion, and last free day deadlines.
Chassis and equipment coordination means tracking chassis availability and pool assignments, and resolving equipment shortages or interchange issues that could delay a move.
Demurrage and detention management covers monitoring last free days and per diem clocks, proactively flagging at-risk containers, and working with carriers and customers to avoid or dispute unnecessary charges.
Freight management covers overseeing every step of the container's lifecycle, from terminal pickup to delivery and empty return, including tracking, status updates, and issue resolution.
Carrier development means building and maintaining strong relationships with drayage carriers to ensure reliable capacity at the ports and rail ramps you serve.
Documentation and compliance requires managing bills of lading, customs holds, and terminal release documentation, and ensuring loads are compliant before dispatch.
Problem solving involves proactively addressing chassis shortages, terminal delays, customs holds, or exceptions to ensure on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.
Technology and reporting include leveraging transportation management systems (TMS), port/rail tracking portals, and EDI data to manage loads, maintain accurate records, and report performance metrics.
Collaboration requires partnering with internal teams, ocean and rail carriers, and terminal operators to align customer expectations with operational execution.