Transportation Manager - Buffalo

Manager, Transportation

The Manager, Transportation will cultivate a department culture centered on people, safety, service, and cost through meaningful engagements with drivers, exceptional service to customers, and safe and profitable operations. Leveraging their experience in transportation operations, they will manage personnel and drive efficient transportation operations, ensuring safe, accurate, and timely daily outbound shipments to customers and other distribution centers within the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead with a safety mindset to ensure that every associate, customer, and the general public with whom drivers interact remain injury-free. Champion safety procedures, processes, and training to create and maintain a safety-first culture in the Transportation department.
• Oversee and develop drivers and Transportation associates through one-on-one coaching, training on policy and procedures, assisting in problem resolution when required, and leading by example. Ensure all drivers and other Transportation department associates are appropriately trained in job duties as well as safety and legal responsibilities.
• Discuss performance with Senior Transportation Managers and create plans to address gaps, overseeing and developing drivers and Transportation associates.
• Create an atmosphere in which upward communication is encouraged, and motivate associates to achieve department goals and objectives.
• Direct and supervise the work and productivity of drivers and clerical associates within the Transportation department. Drive associate engagement and retention, and create a culture that embodies organizational values.
• Build high-performing teams by participating in interviewing and hiring Transportation personnel, in conjunction with Senior Transportation Managers. Review performance, coach on service and safety targets, and deliver disciplinary action.
• Monitor production goals and maintain a zero-error attitude to ensure accuracy and customer satisfaction. Anticipate, analyze, and troubleshoot problems with deliveries and devise cost-effective and legal solutions; act to implement same. Ensure team understands and adheres to DOT regulations.
• Identify and stop waste, and improve processes to complete work more safely and efficiently.
• Conduct routine Safety and Driver Meetings. Oversee maintenance of driver qualification files.
• Investigate all accidents, maintain an accident file, track causes, and take appropriate preventative action.
• Effectively schedule working shifts by leveraging appropriate planning tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
• Perform other duties as assigned by the manager.

Supervision:

• Direct: Union and/or non-union Drivers

Relationships:

• Internal: Transportation leaders and coworkers; Drivers; Warehouse leaders; Internal customers across departments (e.g., Sales)
• External: Customers

Work Environment:

• May spend a significant amount of time on the road. Must spend a portion of working time in a truck with drivers, exposed to noise and vibration levels which may be higher than those typically experienced in passenger cars. Will spend time in an office working on a computer.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Related Experience/Requirements:

  • Minimum of three years of experience in transportation/delivery or warehouse distribution required.
  • Minimum of one year of experience overseeing a workforce required.
  • Experience as a driver is a plus.

• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

  • Broad knowledge of transportation/delivery operations, methods, and procedures.
  • Strong leadership, communication, and people development skills.
  • Strong understanding of DOT requirements. Familiarity with inventory control, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
  • Ability to interpret financial and operational data.
  • Basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office).

• Travel:

  • 10% travel required, typically for mandatory meetings and/or training.

Education/Training:

• High school diploma or GED required; college degree preferred.