Transportation Manager

Louis Dreyfus Company • Kansas City, MO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for transportation operational performance and rail pricing in support of LDC’s processing plants, terminals, and trading desks. The Transportation Manager leads day‑to‑day execution including rail movements, service reliability, and cost performance, ensuring shipments are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with commercial priorities. The role owns rail rate management, pricing analysis, and carrier negotiations, while providing leadership, prioritization, and escalation management for the transportation team. This position partners closely with the Logistics & Assets Manager to ensure transportation execution aligns with fleet availability, compliance standards, and broader cost objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Five years minimum in a logistics, transportation or related role
• Must have an extensive knowledge of the U.S. rail transportation systems, relationships with major transportation providers and a 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 and vessel logistics preferably
• Familiarity with current commodity transportation issues
• Proficiency with MS Excel, transportation software systems, database administration and online systems/websites
• Knowledge/ability to set up accruals for freight, costs, demurrage, etc.
• Must have good negotiating skills and understand how to leverage opportunities
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Suite and Power BI
• 0-2 direct reports
• Assists Director of Transportation with supervising the transportation team when needed

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree specializing in agriculture, transportation, or logistics preferred
• Advanced training in leadership, rail transportation or supply chain is helpful
• Five years or more experience at an agribusiness firm, railroad or shipper handling railcar volume
• Experience in a trading environment is helpful
• Knowledge of demurrage/despatch concepts helpful

Responsibilities

• Lead transportation operational performance, directing day‑to‑day execution of rail movements and service delivery to support of plants, terminals, and trading desks.
• Identify and address service performance and issue resolution, including missed service recovery, disruption response, embargo management, and escalation coordination.
• Lead rail pricing negotiations and commercial decision‑making, supported by rate analysis, benchmarking, tariff monitoring, and pricing strategies aligned with volume, service, and cost objectives.
• Provide leadership and governance for the transportation team, setting execution priorities, monitoring KPIs, and ensuring consistent processes, controls, and decision‑making across transportation operations.
• Maintain routine coordination with rail carriers to support day‑to‑day communications, operating updates, and information flow related to service plans and execution status.
• Oversee rail rate negotiations by preparing analyses, tracking negotiation status, documenting outcomes, and ensuring agreed pricing is accurately reflected in systems and contracts.
• Assist with carrier performance reviews by compiling service metrics, trend analysis, and supporting materials for leadership discussions.
• Support transportation planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities by providing execution data, historical performance insights, and pricing inputs.
• Oversee daily logistical activities at plants and coordinates with delivering rail carriers, traders and processing facilities.
• Manages ancillary charges including penalties, demurrage, diversion charges and other related fees while working to minimize.
• Oversees freight spend related activities including invoicing, tracking, quoting and reporting, giving guidance and instruction to team members.
• Coordinates transportation requirements with operations and commercial teams while identifying capacity concerns and forecasts.
• Attend and participate in conferences, visit supplier head offices, LDC assets and other travel as required to support team/individual/LDC objectives.
• Perform other duties and projects assigned in support of evolving business needs.

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
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees