Senior Project Cargo Specialist, Rail Logistics

LOGISTICS PLUS INC•The Woodlands, TX

About The Position

The Senior Project Cargo Specialist, Rail Logistics is responsible for the strategic planning, engineering, and execution of complex project cargo movements with a primary focus on rail transportation. This role serves as the organization’s subject matter expert for rail-based heavy-lift and oversized cargo solutions and plays a critical role in designing multimodal logistics strategies for large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects. The position requires deep experience with rail routing, dimensional analysis, specialized railcar equipment, rail engineering constraints, and coordination with Class I railroads, short-line carriers, and transload facilities. The Senior Specialist will also support commercial teams in developing competitive logistics solutions for project bids and large customer engagements.

Requirements

8–15+ years of experience in project cargo, heavy-lift logistics, or oversized transportation.
Extensive expertise in North American rail transportation and specialized rail equipment.
Demonstrated experience managing large-scale multimodal project logistics movements.
Strong understanding of rail clearances, routing analysis, and infrastructure limitations.
Proven ability to develop transportation plans for complex industrial cargo.
Excellent stakeholder management skills with rail carriers, vendors, and customers.
Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
Rail project logistics expertise
Heavy-lift transportation planning
Commercial solution development
Vendor and carrier negotiation
Risk assessment and mitigation
Leadership and technical mentorship

Nice To Haves

Experience working directly with Class I railroads and rail engineering teams.
Knowledge of AAR loading standards and rail securement engineering.
Background in energy, oil & gas, renewable energy, mining, or industrial construction logistics.
Experience supporting EPC contractors or large capital project logistics.
Project management certification or logistics-related professional credentials.
Multimodal supply chain design preferred

Responsibilities

Rail Logistics Strategy & Expertise Serve as the subject matter expert for rail transport of oversized and heavy-lift cargo.
Design rail logistics solutions for complex domestic and international project cargo movements.
Evaluate rail routings, clearance requirements, bridge restrictions, and infrastructure constraints.
Select appropriate specialized rail equipment including flatcars, depressed center cars, Schnabel cars, and heavy-capacity railcars.
Project Planning & Execution Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of large-scale project cargo shipments involving rail transport.
Develop detailed transportation plans including routing analysis, lifting strategies, transload operations, and final delivery.
Oversee multimodal project logistics involving combinations of rail, heavy-haul trucking, barge, and ocean freight.
Monitor project execution, proactively resolving operational challenges and ensuring timeline adherence.
Commercial Support & Solution Design Collaborate with business development and commercial teams to design logistics solutions for project bids.
Provide technical input and cost modeling for large infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects.
Prepare detailed rail cost estimates, routing analyses, and operational feasibility assessments.
Participate in customer meetings to present project logistics strategies and rail transport capabilities.
Carrier & Vendor Relationship Management Maintain strategic relationships with Class I railroads, short-line operators, specialized railcar providers, and transload terminals.
Coordinate with heavy-haul carriers, port operators, crane companies, and engineering partners.
Negotiate service agreements and operational arrangements for project-specific rail movements.
Engineering, Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with rail industry standards, AAR loading rules, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Conduct route risk assessments and identify mitigation strategies for dimensional or infrastructure challenges.
Coordinate rail clearance studies and route approvals with rail carriers.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration Provide technical leadership and guidance to project logistics coordinators and operations staff.
Act as a mentor for junior team members developing rail logistics expertise.
Work closely with operations, procurement, and commercial teams to ensure alignment on project execution.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement Develop operational performance metrics for rail project logistics.
Conduct post-project reviews to identify opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements.
Maintain knowledge of evolving rail regulations, infrastructure developments, and specialized equipment availability.