Transportation Manager

Job Summary:

The Transportation Manager oversees daily delivery operations, ensuring efficient routing, excellent customer service, and compliance with company policies. This role requires strong organizational, analytical, and leadership skills to manage driver schedules, customer requests, and routing strategies while minimizing overtime and maximizing delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities:

- Daily Operations: Manage driver assignments, route execution, staffing, and dispatch to meet delivery schedules and customer requirements.

- Labor and Cost Management: Monitor driver hours, overtime, staffing levels, and transportation cost per case. Adjust schedules and route coverage to improve productivity.

- Route Planning and Recovery: Work with routers and dispatchers to improve route efficiency, coordinate second runs, and resolve missed deliveries, callouts, and priority orders.

- Team Leadership: Lead supervisors, transportation leads, dispatchers, and drivers. Establish clear expectations, provide coaching, and hold employees accountable for performance.

- Driver Training: Oversee onboarding, road test, defensive driving, delivery procedures, equipment operation, and ongoing safety training.

- Safety and Compliance: Maintain readiness for applicable DOT and FMCSA requirements, inspections, driver qualification records, and company safety standards in coordination with compliance personnel.

- Fleet Readiness: Coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs, review vehicle inspection reports, and ensure trucks and delivery equipment are ready for service.

- Technology and Reporting: Use Omnitracs, Samsara, Paycom, Fleetio, and other company systems to monitor routes, safety events, attendance, maintenance, and operational performance.

- Customer Service: Partner with sales, customer service, and warehouse leadership to resolve delivery concerns and improve the customer experience.

- Delivery Standards: Ensure drivers verify product quality and order accuracy, follow customer delivery instructions, complete required documentation, and handle products properly.

- Fuel and Equipment Controls: Oversee fuel card accountability, fuel usage, vehicle assignments, and distribution of driver equipment.

- Incident Management: Respond to accidents, breakdowns, service interruptions, and safety concerns. Document incidents and implement corrective actions.

- Continuous Improvement: Review performance trends, identify operational gaps, and implement procedures that improve safety, service, and financial results.

- Operational Support: Conduct route evaluations and provide emergency delivery coverage when qualified and needed.

Qualifications:

- Minimum of five years of transportation or delivery operations experience, including supervisory or management responsibilities.

- Experience in produce, foodservice distribution, refrigerated delivery, or a similar high-volume environment preferred.

- Working knowledge of fleet operations, route planning, driver safety, and applicable transportation regulations.

- Demonstrated ability to manage labor budgets, control overtime, and interpret operational and financial reports.

- Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

- Proficiency with transportation management systems, telematics, timekeeping software, and Microsoft Office.

- Valid drivers license and acceptable driving record; appropriate license required for any vehicles operated.

- Bachelors degree in transportation, logistics, supply chain management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred.

- Proficient in route planning software (e.g., Omnitracs) and MS Office Suite.

- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle urgent tasks.

- Knowledge of DOT regulations and safety compliance is a plus.

Preferred Skills:

- Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

- Familiarity with transportation cost control and overtime management.

Physical Requirements:

- Frequent moving of product up to 50 pounds during the shift.

- Must be able to climb on and off the box of the truck.

- Frequent bending, squatting, pushing, and pulling.

- Must be able to work in cold storage environment

- Must be able to work in extreme weather conditions (hot weather, rain, and extreme cold temperatures)

Benefits:

- Health insurance

- 401(k)

- Paid time off

- Vision insurance

- Health savings account

- Dental insurance

- Life insurance

- Employee assistance program

- Disability insurance

- Paid holidays

- Weekly payroll