Specialist, Logistics

Crown Bakeries•Nashville, TN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Corporate Logistics Specialist is responsible for overseeing day-to-day transportation execution across the network, ensuring dependable, timely, and cost-effective movement of product from bakeries to cold storage and customers. This role serves as the central coordination point for dispatch, routing execution, and issue resolution, managing real-time disruptions and maintaining alignment with the company’s transportation strategy. The Specialist acts as a key operational partner to bakery and warehouse teams, focusing on proactive communication and tactical problem-solving to maintain high service levels across the supply chain.

Requirements

3+ years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain operations.
Direct experience in dispatch, routing, or tactical transportation execution.
Intermediate proficiency in Excel is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, or business administration preferred. Experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
Experience in food manufacturing, distribution, or cold chain logistics is strongly preferred.
Experience working with ERP, TMS, and WMS platforms is preferred.
Experience with operational reporting tools is preferred.
Ability to navigate high-volume, fast-paced environments with competing priorities.
Strong operational problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information.
Strong coordination skills across multiple locations and stakeholder groups.
Maintains a service mindset with a constant focus on reliability and responsiveness.
Demonstrates a bias for action and accountability for daily results.

Responsibilities

Serve as the central point of coordination for daily transportation execution across all locations.
Oversee routing and dispatch activities to ensure strict adherence to routing guides and transportation plans.
Partner with bakery and warehouse teams to ensure load readiness and on-time departures.
Monitor shipment status throughout the lifecycle and proactively address potential delays or service risks.
Manage spot market freight procurement for unplanned or overflow shipments when contract capacity is unavailable.
Make real-time decisions regarding expedited shipments based on service needs and defined cost guardrails.
Minimize reliance on high-cost spot freight through proactive coordination and providing continuous planning feedback.
Lead the resolution of day-to-day transportation issues, including late pickups, carrier no-shows, capacity shortages, and misrouted shipments.
Function as the primary escalation point for bakeries, warehouses, and carriers regarding execution failures.
Ensure timely communication and resolution across all internal and external stakeholders to minimize impact on customer service.
Manage the end-to-end freight claims process, including damage, loss, and accessorial disputes.
Resolve damaged product claims and other invoice deductions to protect company interests.
Partner with carriers to resolve service failures and recurring issues identified through performance tracking.
Track and report trends in claims and service disruptions to drive long-term improvements.
Facilitate seamless communication between bakeries, cold storage facilities, and transportation providers.
Provide regular feedback to the Logistics Manager on routing inefficiencies, carrier performance, and network constraints.
Identify opportunities to reduce expedites, improve service reliability, and enhance execution discipline.
Support the implementation and adoption of Transportation Management System (TMS) processes and tools.