Trader, US Rail Freight

Louis Dreyfus Company • Kansas City, MO

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for developing and executing rail freight trading strategies focused on maximizing the return to the Company. Responsibilities include developing a trade book and functional P&L for various rail freight activities, collaborating with grain desks to ensure timely execution of physical grain movements, and optimizing rail positions across all desks. Manages the BNSF, UPRR, and CPKCS freight position for the Grains & Oilseeds platform. Guides regions freight positioning suit export flows & freight hedge positions. Ensures secondary freight positions are accurately reflected and distributed to regional traders. Stays abreast of market developments, ensuring timely group updates & interpretation of market data. Key member of the Grains and Oilseeds origination team, actively engaging customers for the procurement of grains and oilseeds for domestic and export markets. Coordinate information flow between departments to meet internal and external customer requirements. Assist in the development and implementation of transportation strategies for NAM G&O team. Receives rail freight applications from third parties and matches trains to the freight needs of the internal team. Responsible for timely billing of trains, or assigning coverage, including nights and weekends. Markets secondary UP, CPKCS & BNSF freight to country elevators to grow grain origination base. Maintains a live rail freight balance sheet forecasting rail freight S&D basis G&O export forecasts. Uses historical information to analyze pricing trends and project forward market pricing outlook. Provide consultation to accounting personnel regarding settlements of rail freight pricing. Collaborates with the Transportation desk in collecting refunds on contracts; assists with managing and analysis of payments for freight bills and demurrage.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• Five to seven years of experience in an agribusiness firm, railroad or related transportation field
• Three or more years of direct ownership of rail grain or freight trading & position management
• Demonstrated strong negotiating skills and commercial understanding combined with the right commercial attitude and results orientation
• Capability to consolidate global and domestic market drivers into a point of view and executable trading strategy
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to select relevant information from a flow of information (distinction between main and side issues)
• Demonstrated ability to manage trading risks
• Extensive knowledge of the U.S. transportation systems
• Relationships with all the major transportation providers
• Good working knowledge of grain trading and transportation
• Knowledge of rules and regulations for shippers and receivers (e.g., Surface Transportation Board, Federal Railroad Authority, HazMat, Department of Transportation, Food and Drug Administration), including awareness of nonperformance issues and penalties
• Knowledge of railroad logistics specifically
• Proficiency with MS Excel, database administration and online systems/websites
• Knowledge of fundamentals of grain accounting, basis/flat price trading and futures markets
• Knowledge/Ability to set up accruals for freight, costs, demurrage, etc.
• Good negotiating skills and understand how to leverage opportunities

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of vessel logistics preferably
• Knowledge of demurrage/despatch concepts helpful
• Familiarity with current commodity transportation issues
• Advanced proficiency with spreadsheet and word-processing software (e.g., Excel and MS Word, Power Bi, AI Copilot).
• Strong organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, prioritize workload, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute rail freight trading strategies to maximize company return.
• Develop a trade book and functional P&L for rail freight activities.
• Collaborate with grain desks for timely execution of physical grain movements.
• Optimize rail positions across all desks.
• Manage BNSF, UPRR, and CPKCS freight position for the Grains & Oilseeds platform.
• Guide regional freight positioning for export flows and freight hedge positions.
• Ensure accurate reflection and distribution of secondary freight positions to regional traders.
• Stay updated on market developments and provide timely group updates and market data interpretation.
• Engage customers for grain and oilseed procurement for domestic and export markets.
• Coordinate information flow between departments to meet customer requirements.
• Assist in developing and implementing transportation strategies for the NAM G&O team.
• Receive rail freight applications from third parties and match trains to internal freight needs.
• Ensure timely billing of trains or assigning coverage, including nights and weekends.
• Market secondary UP, CPKCS & BNSF freight to country elevators to grow grain origination base.
• Maintain a live rail freight balance sheet forecasting rail freight S&D basis G&O export forecasts.
• Analyze pricing trends and project forward market pricing outlook using historical information.
• Provide consultation to accounting personnel regarding rail freight pricing settlements.
• Collaborate with the Transportation desk in collecting refunds on contracts.
• Assist with managing and analyzing payments for freight bills and demurrage.
• Coordinate with the transportation desk for accurate rail rate database management.
• Provide rail rate quotations for grain shipments and other commodities to regional traders.
• Distribute monthly updates with rail fuel surcharges and company exposure.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and vision care coverage, flexible spending account plans, employee assistance program, life insurance and disability coverage
• 401k with Company Match
• Family Friendly Benefits including childbirth and parental leave, fertility and family building benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level