Senior Manager Transportation

Ashley Furniture Industries•Bern Township, PA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Transportation Manager provides strategic leadership for Ashley’s transportation operations, managing multi-site networks, fleets, and carrier relationships to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective movement of goods. This role oversees transportation leaders and teams (driver managers, dispatch, routing, logistics coordinators), drives continuous improvement in service and cost, and ensures full compliance with DOT/FMCSA regulations, Hours of Service (HOS), and company policies. The Senior Transportation Manager partners with distribution, customer service, planning, and finance to align transportation strategies with business objectives and customer expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field.
7–10+ years of progressive experience in transportation or logistics operations.
Minimum 5+ years in a senior leadership role managing large-scale transportation or fleet operations.
Demonstrated success managing multi-site or multi-region transportation networks.
Strong knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations, HOS, and transportation safety practices.
Proven experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS), routing software, and telematics tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven decision-making style.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to influence and collaborate across all levels.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field.
Experience in furniture, retail, manufacturing distribution, or similar environment.
Experience managing a combination of dedicated fleets and third-party carriers.
Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
Experience with fleet electrification, alternative fuels, or sustainability-focused transportation initiatives.
Project management experience or PMP certification.
CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) or prior commercial driving experience (helpful but not required).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute transportation strategies that align with organizational goals for service, cost, and growth.
Oversee multi-region or multi-DC transportation operations, including linehaul, regional, and last-mile delivery networks.
Design and optimize lanes, routes, and delivery patterns to improve on-time performance, reduce miles, and enhance asset utilization.
Lead annual transportation planning, including capacity strategies, mode selection, and network changes.
Benchmark performance against industry standards and implement best practices across the network.
Lead and mentor transportation leadership teams (transportation managers, driver managers, dispatch supervisors, coordinators).
Set clear expectations for safety, service, productivity, and behavior; hold leaders and teams accountable.
Conduct performance reviews for direct reports, provide coaching and development plans, and build succession pipelines.
Develop and implement training programs for transportation staff on systems, safety, customer service, and operational excellence.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all transportation functions.
Oversee daily transportation operations including dispatch, routing, load planning, and driver scheduling.
Manage company fleets and/or contracted carriers to ensure efficient and reliable service.
Monitor driver and asset utilization, capacity, and productivity; adjust plans to meet demand and service requirements.
Partner with fleet maintenance leadership to ensure vehicle reliability, safety, and availability.
Ensure adherence to DOT/FMCSA regulations, HOS, driver qualification standards, and company safety policies.
Support and oversee initiatives related to driver retention, engagement, and performance.
Develop and manage relationships with third-party carriers, brokers, and transportation service providers.
Negotiate contracts, rates, and service level agreements to balance cost and service quality.
Monitor carrier performance metrics including on-time delivery, damage rates, claims, and cost per mile.
Conduct regular business reviews with carriers and implement performance improvement plans where necessary.
Identify and onboard new carriers to support capacity needs and strategic initiatives.
Champion a safety-first culture throughout the transportation organization.
Ensure full compliance with DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, and other applicable regulations.
Oversee monitoring of HOS, ELD usage, driver logs, inspections, and incident reporting.
Review safety performance data (accidents, violations, near-misses) and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Work closely with safety teams on training, audits, and regulatory updates.
Lead transportation budget development and manage financial performance (labor, fuel, maintenance, linehaul, accessorials).
Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) including cost per mile, cost per delivery, utilization, on-time performance, and safety metrics.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiency gains through improved routing, consolidation, mode shifts, and vendor negotiations.
Prepare and present financial and operational reports, forecasts, and business cases to senior leadership.
Ensure transportation decisions support overall P&L objectives and long-term growth strategies.
Oversee use and optimization of Transportation Management Systems (TMS), routing software, telematics, and other logistics technologies.
Partner with IT and systems teams to drive enhancements, integrations, and reporting improvements.
Use data analytics, CQI, Lean, and Six Sigma methods to identify issues and implement solutions.
Lead or sponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on service, cost, and efficiency.
Explore and evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., advanced telematics, EVs, automation, AI-based planning) for potential adoption.
Collaborate with distribution operations, planning, customer service, sales, procurement, and finance to ensure end-to-end supply chain alignment.
Support new business initiatives, network changes, and strategic projects with transportation input and leadership.
Serve as escalation point for major service issues, customer concerns, or operational disruptions.
Communicate clearly and proactively with internal stakeholders on transportation performance, risks, and initiatives.
Demonstrate the company’s core and growth values in the performance of all job functions.
Use a “dirty fingernail” approach by going to the work, understanding the current state, and making grounded decisions.
Challenge current ways of operating that inhibit growth and organize transportation work to meet evolving customer needs.