Transportation Operations Manager
About The Position
The Transportation Operations Manager leads the day-to-day transportation operation for Kalmbach Trucking and Best In Show Logistics. The role owns the live transportation boards for bulk outbound, inbound, van, and extended-hours coverage, and is accountable for covering loads on time and at the right cost. The manager leads a team of seven planners and coordinators and serves as the single owner of the live operation, allowing senior transportation leadership to focus on network design, carrier strategy, and total transportation cost. The manager oversees daily operating plans, capacity, service exceptions, freight spending, contractor settlements, staffing, and performance reporting. The role also maintains procedures and cross-training, partners with plant and business teams to keep daily plans current, and identifies future capacity and staffing needs as volume grows and new plants open.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of transportation or logistics operations experience, including at least 2 years leading a team.
- Experience with bulk (hopper) and/or truckload van operations.
- Working knowledge of a transportation management system, load-planning tools, and Microsoft Excel.
- Sound judgment making real-time decisions on service, cost, and capacity.
- Clear, credible communication with drivers, carriers, plant teams, and internal partners.
- Working knowledge of FMCSA hours-of-service requirements.
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, or business, or equivalent experience.
Nice To Haves
- Experience managing a company or contractor fleet is strongly preferred.
- Contractor settlements and payroll experience are strongly preferred.
- Experience with Beyond Trucks is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Own the daily operating plan across bulk outbound, inbound, and van freight, keeping service and cost on target.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of seven: Driver & Carrier Relations Manager, Senior Bulk Load Planner, Inbound Load Planner, Van Load Planner, Retail Logistics Coordinator, Transportation Contracts & Audit Administrator, and Extended Hours Transportation Coordinator.
- Manage capacity by tracking expected and committed carrier and contractor capacity against actual delivery, and close gaps before they affect plants or customers.
- Serve as the first point of escalation for exceptions and service failures, and drive root-cause correction.
- Approve daily rates and freight spend within the cost standards set by the Regional Transportation Manager.
- Oversee contractor settlements and serve as backup for the bulk plan, weekly contractor settlements, accessorial approvals in Beyond Trucks, and driver and carrier relations.
- Set extended-hours coverage and team staffing to match actual freight demand, and manage team utilization.
- Establish, track, and report operating KPIs, including on-time pickup and delivery, exceptions closed, and cost per load against standard.
- Maintain written procedures and cross-training so that no critical task depends on a single person.
- Partner with plant operations, Purchasing, Customer Service, Warehousing, Safety, and the Shop to keep the daily plan current.
- Identify capacity and staffing needs early as volume grows and new plants come online.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits with eligibility on date of hire.
- 401(k) with traditional and Roth options and a generous company match.
- Three weeks of paid time off in the first year.
- Company-paid short-term and long-term disability.
- Company-paid life insurance.
- Competitive compensation.
- On-staff life coach.
- Medical and dependent care reimbursement plans.
- Access to a beachfront company condo in Fort Myers, Florida.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
