This position is responsible for leading the transportation function supporting outbound shipments from the Dallas / Grand Prairie Distribution Center. Responsibilities include transportation planning, carrier management, customer routing compliance, international shipping oversight, hazardous materials transportation compliance, freight cost management, transportation performance reporting, process improvement, and supervision of transportation personnel.
This position serves as the facility subject matter expert for transportation operations and hazardous materials shipping requirements. The Transportation Manager works closely with Distribution, Customer Service, Inventory Control, Sales, and other departments to ensure customer requirements are met while maintaining compliance with company policies, customer requirements, and applicable transportation regulations. The position is responsible for transportation process ownership, personnel development, transportation compliance oversight, carrier performance, freight cost validation, and continuous improvement initiatives designed to improve service, compliance, productivity, shipment quality, and transportation cost performance.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Department Leadership
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Supervise transportation personnel, including workload assignment, training, coaching, performance management, and employee development.
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Manage daily transportation staffing, workload balancing, and priority alignment to support operational requirements.
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Establish transportation priorities and ensure resources are aligned with customer and business requirements.
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Support employee development and succession planning for transportation personnel.
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Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, compliance, and continuous improvement within the transportation function.
Transportation Operations
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Direct daily transportation operations supporting parcel, LTL, FTL, air freight, ocean freight, and international shipments.
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Develop daily transportation plans that align transportation priorities with shipping capacity, customer commitments, and operational requirements.
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Coordinate transportation activities with Distribution, Customer Service, Inventory Control, Sales, and other departments to ensure efficient shipment execution.
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Monitor transportation activity and resolve transportation-related issues that may impact customer service, operational performance, or compliance requirements.
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Oversee international shipping activities and ensure compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.
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Coordinate daily carrier scheduling, pickup planning, and transportation priorities to support customer required ship dates and operational objectives.
Customer Compliance & Performance
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Ensure compliance with customer routing guides, ASN requirements, appointment requirements, transportation instructions, and customer-specific shipping requirements.
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Monitor transportation KPIs including OTS, routing compliance, ASN compliance, carrier service performance, and transportation accuracy.
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Analyze transportation performance metrics and develop corrective actions to improve service, compliance, and operational performance.
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Lead transportation-related corrective action reviews involving customer complaints, compliance failures, shipment delays, and carrier service issues.
Hazardous Materials & Transportation Compliance
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Own and maintain the facility hazardous materials transportation compliance program.
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Ensure appropriate training, certification, auditing, and documentation processes are maintained for hazardous materials transportation activities.
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Maintain required certifications and serve as the facility subject matter expert and escalation point for hazardous materials transportation issues.
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Prepare, review, and approve hazardous materials shipments in accordance with DOT (49 CFR), IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, IMDG Code, and company requirements.
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Review transportation processes and documentation to ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and company requirements.
Carrier & Freight Cost Management
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Develop and maintain productive relationships with parcel carriers, LTL carriers, truckload carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other transportation providers.
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Manage carrier sourcing activities including Requests for Quotation (RFQs), carrier evaluations, service comparisons, and transportation recommendations.
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Participate in carrier selection, service reviews, and contract negotiations to ensure transportation solutions support business objectives.
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Review and validate freight rates and carrier invoices to ensure transportation costs align with quoted rates, routing instructions, and negotiated agreements.
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Investigate freight billing discrepancies, service failures, and transportation claims while coordinating timely resolution with carriers, internal departments, and Finance.
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Maintain carrier rate documentation, transportation quotes, service agreements, and supporting records.
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Monitor carrier performance and service levels and develop corrective actions for underperforming carriers.
Process Improvement
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Establish, maintain, and continuously improve transportation standard work, procedures, and work instructions.
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Identify opportunities to improve transportation efficiency, compliance, service performance, and cost effectiveness.
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Lead transportation-related continuous improvement initiatives supporting company objectives.
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Evaluate transportation processes and recommend improvements to systems, workflows, documentation, and carrier utilization.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
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Develop and distribute transportation performance reports and metrics.
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Conduct transportation compliance audits and process reviews.
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Assist with customer transportation inquiries and corrective action activities.
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Support special projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
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Additional projects or assignments may be identified from time to time.
Experience, Skills & Education:
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Minimum five years of transportation, logistics, or supply chain experience.
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Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
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Thorough knowledge of domestic and international transportation operations, carrier services, and shipping practices.
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Strong understanding of parcel, LTL, FTL, air freight, ocean freight, and international transportation requirements.
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Knowledge of customer routing guides, customer-specific shipping requirements, appointment scheduling processes, ASN requirements, and transportation compliance programs.
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Thorough understanding of export documentation requirements including commercial invoices, certificates of origin, export declarations, bills of lading, air waybills, and hazardous materials documentation.
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Current hazardous materials shipping certification, or ability to obtain certification, covering applicable DOT, IATA, and IMDG transportation requirements.
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Thorough understanding of hazardous materials transportation requirements including DOT (49 CFR), IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, IMDG Code, and related regulations.
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Experience supporting transportation sourcing activities, RFQs, freight rate analysis, and carrier performance management.
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Experience reviewing transportation invoices, validating freight charges, and resolving freight billing discrepancies.
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Experience utilizing K&N Business Management (BMS), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, carrier portals, freight forwarder systems, and customer logistics portals.
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Ability to communicate effectively with carriers, customers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and internal departments.
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Ability to supervise, coach, and develop employees.
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Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
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Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced distribution environment.
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Ability to investigate transportation issues and implement effective corrective actions.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
