Transportation Manager

Associated Feed & Supply•Turlock, CA

1d•$108,295 - $145,000

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, the Transportation Manager will be responsible for hands-on leadership and execution of all aspects of the company's transportation and fleet operations. This role will directly manage high volume daily shipment activity, including the coordination of outbound and inbound loads, supported by a dispatch team. The Transportation Manager will work cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Procurement, Drivers and Maintenance to ensure transportation decisions align with customer commitments, operational capabilities, compliance requirements and cost objectives. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong leadership skills and deep knowledge of fleet operations, third party carrier management and transportation compliance.

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of DOT regulations, OSHA requirements, and general transportation laws. (FMCSA regulations, DMV and CARB)
Basic financial concepts of budgeting, forecasting, P&L statements, and capital spending.
Fleet equipment, trailer types and basic maintenance concepts including hydraulics.
Manage complex, high volume transportation operations in fast paced environment.
Negotiate effectively with carriers and vendors.
Proficiency with TMS software and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
Inspire and manage a diverse team to achieve operational goals.
Demonstrate a strong capability to analyze data, identify operational bottlenecks, and develop effective solutions.
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills for internal and external correspondence, reports, and presentations.
Hold a commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction through reliable and timely service.
Demonstrate a proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field OR a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in transportation, fleet or logistics operations.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in transportation management, logistics, or fleet operations, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
Valid driver's license: DOT certification/training, and Class A Driver’s License preferred.

Responsibilities

Logistics & Strategy: Develop and implement transportation strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of goods. Optimize routes, load configurations, equipment utilization and delivery schedules to minimize empty miles and optimize total freight spend.
Serve as the primary escalation point for shipment disruptions, service failures, rate disputes, detention issues, and capacity constraints.
Fleet Management: Oversee the daily activity of the company's commercial vehicle fleet. Work with the Risk & Compliance team to ensure all vehicles are registered, insured, and compliant with safety and environmental standards. Manage fuel consumption and vehicle tracking systems.
Compliance & Safety: Ensure all transportation operations comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, driver hours of service (HOS), and vehicle maintenance and inspection logs. Promote and enforce a strong safety culture.
Team Leadership: Lead, train, mentor, and evaluate transportation staff, including drivers, dispatchers, and administrative personnel. Establish clear load ownership, dispatcher accountability, workload prioritization and coverage plan. Manage scheduling, performance, and disciplinary actions as required.
Budget & Cost Control: Develop and manage the transportation budget, freight spend and fleet operating costs. Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost, delivery performance, and operational efficiency, implementing corrective actions as needed. Verify purchase orders, shipping documentation, and billing before invoices are paid by AP.
Carrier & Vendor Relations: Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with third-party logistics (3PL) providers, freight brokers, third-party sub haulers, third-party management and carriers to secure favorable rates and reliable service.
Technology & Reporting: Utilize various data management systems and other logistics software to manage operations, track shipments, and generate performance reports for senior management.
Sales, Operations & Procurement Collaboration: Partner closely with sales and operations to align transportation capacity, delivery windows, and cost assumptions with customer commitments. Provide transportation cost input to support customer pricing, margin analysis and contract negotiations.
Inbound Transportation: Work closely with the procurement teams to manage costs for inbound ingredient deliveries.
Perform related duties and/or special projects as assigned