Transportation Manager

Description

Job Title: TRANSPORTATION MANAGER

Department: Operations

Reports To: Vice President of Operations

Status: Exempt

Location: On-site / In-person

POSITION SUMMARY

The Transportation Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day execution of Ace Distributing's transportation and delivery operations to support the safe, efficient, compliant, and timely delivery of products throughout the Company's service area.

This position provides direct leadership and supervision to transportation employees and is responsible for driver performance, dispatch execution, staffing, regulatory compliance, fleet coordination, transportation safety, and response to daily operational issues.

The Transportation Manager works in close partnership with the Routing and Distribution Services Manager to ensure routing and load plans are operationally practical, appropriately staffed, safely executed, and adjusted as necessary based on changing business conditions.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Transportation Operations & Execution: Oversee daily transportation and delivery operations, including dispatch execution, driver assignments, staffing coverage, delivery performance, and response to call-offs, vehicle issues, delays, weather events, route changes, and other operational circumstances.
• Employee Leadership & Performance Management: Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, direction, and support to transportation employees. Establish clear expectations, monitor performance and conduct, address concerns, support employee development, and coordinate corrective action with the Vice President of Operations and Human Resources when appropriate.
• Routing & Distribution Partnership: Work closely with the Routing and Distribution Services Manager to ensure routing and load plans align with available drivers, equipment, customer-service requirements, safety considerations, and actual operating conditions. Provide timely operational feedback regarding route feasibility, recurring delivery challenges, staffing constraints, and execution issues.
• DOT, Regulatory & Record Compliance: Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and Department of Transportation requirements affecting Company drivers and transportation operations, including driver qualification requirements, Hours of Service, required drug and alcohol testing programs, inspections, vehicle documentation, and transportation records. Ensure required records are complete, accurate, and maintained appropriately.
• Safety & Incident Management: Promote a safety-focused transportation operation, reinforce Company safety policies and safe-driving expectations, monitor driver safety performance, and address unsafe behaviors or trends. Coordinate appropriate response, reporting, documentation, and follow-up for transportation-related accidents, injuries, vehicle incidents, breakdowns, and other operational events.
• Staffing, Scheduling & Training: Monitor transportation staffing and scheduling requirements to maintain appropriate operational coverage. Partner with Operations leadership and Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, training, development, and retention, and ensure transportation employees complete required operational, safety, regulatory, and Company training.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement: Monitor established transportation metrics related to safety, service, labor, overtime, productivity, and operational execution. Work collaboratively with the Routing and Distribution Services Manager to evaluate route efficiency and delivery performance, provide operational context to performance results, and implement appropriate improvements related to drivers, staffing, safety, and daily transportation practices.
• Fleet & Equipment Coordination: Monitor vehicle and equipment availability and operational readiness. Coordinate maintenance, repair, inspection, and equipment concerns with appropriate personnel to minimize service interruptions and support safe and reliable transportation operations.
• Customer Service & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Routing and Distribution Services Manager, Warehouse, Sales, Human Resources/Risk Management, Business Services, and other departments to coordinate delivery requirements, resolve operational or customer-service issues, and improve overall distribution performance.
• Operational Support & Special Projects: Support the Vice President of Operations with transportation-related initiatives, investigations, process improvements, system implementations, operational planning, and other responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Previous supervisory or management experience in transportation, distribution, logistics, fleet operations, delivery operations, or a comparable operational environment.
• Working knowledge of Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements applicable to commercial motor vehicle operations.
• Experience supervising employees in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing operational conditions.
• Ability to interpret operational information and performance data and use it to identify issues and improve results.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with drivers, employees, supervisors, management, customers, and other departments.
• Proficiency with transportation, fleet, telematics, routing, business, and general office technology necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position.

Preferred

• Previous transportation leadership experience in beverage distribution, consumer packaged goods, wholesale distribution, or a similar delivery-intensive environment.
• Experience with DOT compliance programs, driver qualification files, Hours of Service requirements, fleet safety programs, and transportation-management technology.
• Associate's or bachelor's degree in business, logistics, supply chain, transportation, operations management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Commercial Driver's License or previous commercial driving experience.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Successful performance in this position requires:

• Leadership and employee supervision
• Operational execution
• Safety and regulatory awareness
• Accountability and follow-through
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Effective communication and collaboration
• Organization and attention to detail
• Adaptability and ability to manage changing priorities
• Customer-service orientation
• Continuous-improvement mindset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Work Environment: This is an on-site management position supporting transportation and delivery operations that may begin early in the morning and continue outside traditional business hours. The Transportation Manager must have the flexibility to respond to operational needs, staffing issues, vehicle problems, weather events, emergencies, and other circumstances that may require attention outside the employee's normal work schedule.

Safety-Sensitive Responsibilities: This position has significant responsibility for the safety of Company employees, vehicles, customers, and the general public. The Transportation Manager is expected to consistently reinforce and comply with Company safety policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

Physical Requirements: The position includes both administrative and operational responsibilities and requires regular presence within transportation, warehouse, yard, and fleet environments. The employee must be able to move throughout these work areas, enter and exit Company vehicles or equipment when necessary, work in varying indoor and outdoor conditions, and occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Driving: The position may require operation of a Company vehicle or travel between Company locations, customer locations, accident or incident locations, repair facilities, or other business locations. When driving on Company business, the employee must maintain all licenses and qualifications required for the vehicle being operated and comply with Company driving requirements.

Schedule & Availability: The position requires flexibility based on transportation and business needs. Work hours may periodically extend beyond a standard workday or workweek.

Job Duties: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every responsibility, duty, or skill required. Responsibilities may be modified or additional duties assigned based on business and operational needs.

At-Will Employment: Employment with Ace Distributing is at will. Nothing in this job description creates or should be construed as creating a contract of employment or altering the at-will employment relationship.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Ace Distributing is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Employment decisions are made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.