Director. Compliance & Safety, Road Transport, US

Location: USA - Lancaster, Midpoint Dr Division: Road Job Posting Title: Director. Compliance & Safety, Road Transport, US Time Type: Full Time Position Summary The Director, Compliance & Safety, Road Transport, US is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of the regulatory compliance and safety programs for DSV Road in the United States. This role owns the full driver safety lifecycle-from driver qualification and onboarding through orientation, ongoing training, performance monitoring, and incident management-and serves as the company's accountable leader for motor carrier compliance, including operating authority and regulatory filings, fleet and equipment compliance, hazardous materials, cargo security, and workplace safety at U.S. terminals. The Director partners closely with Operations, Recruiting, People & Organization (P&O), Legal, Risk/Insurance, and Fleet Maintenance to build a strong safety culture, reduce accidents and injuries, and maintain full compliance with FMCSA, DOT, PHMSA, OSHA, and applicable state regulations. Key Responsibilities Driver Qualification & Compliance - Own the driver qualification (DQ) program in accordance with FMCSA requirements (49 CFR Part 391), including applications, motor vehicle records (MVRs), Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) reports, previous employer safety performance history, road tests, and medical examiner certificates. - Establish and enforce DSV driver hiring standards, including minimum experience, MVR criteria, and disqualifying conduct, and make final safety determinations on driver eligibility. - Oversee the drug and alcohol testing program (49 CFR Parts 40 and 382), including pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty testing, as well as FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse queries and reporting. - Ensure DQ files are complete, accurate, and audit-ready, with systems in place to track expiring CDLs, medical cards, annual MVR reviews, and other recurring requirements. - Establish qualification and safety standards for owner-operators, independent contractors, and third-party carriers where applicable. Driver Orientation & Onboarding - Design, standardize, and lead the driver orientation program across all U.S. terminals, ensuring a consistent, engaging, and compliant onboarding experience. - Ensure orientation content covers DSV safety policies, hours-of-service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) requirements, pre- and post-trip inspections, cargo securement, hazmat (as applicable), defensive driving, accident reporting procedures, and company expectations. - Partner with Recruiting and P&O to align driver recruiting, offer, and onboarding timelines while maintaining safety and qualification standards. - Oversee road tests, skills assessments, and new-driver mentoring or ride-along programs to support safe transition into DSV operations. - Measure orientation effectiveness and early-tenure driver safety performance and retention, and adjust the program based on data and driver feedback. Driver Training & Safety Performance - Develop and deliver ongoing driver safety training, including annual refreshers, seasonal safety campaigns, remedial training, and Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) alignment where applicable. - Leverage telematics, camera systems, and ELD data to monitor driver behavior (e.g., speeding, hard braking, following distance, HOS violations) and drive targeted coaching. - Establish a fair, consistent driver safety scorecard and progressive coaching and accountability process in partnership with Operations and P&O. - Lead driver safety recognition and award programs that reinforce safe behaviors and celebrate milestones. Regulatory Compliance & Audits - Maintain a satisfactory DOT safety rating and actively manage CSA/SMS BASIC scores, developing corrective action plans for any area approaching intervention thresholds. - Lead preparation for and response to DOT compliance reviews, FMCSA investigations, state audits, and roadside inspection trends. - Oversee HOS, ELD, and vehicle inspection compliance (49 CFR Parts 395 and 396) in coordination with Fleet Maintenance and Operations. - Conduct regular internal audits of DQ files, logs, drug and alcohol testing records, and terminal safety practices, and ensure timely remediation of findings. - Monitor regulatory changes at the federal and state level and update policies, procedures, and training accordingly. Operating Authority, Registrations & Filings - Maintain active and accurate USDOT numbers, MC operating authority, and biennial MCS-150 updates for all DSV U.S. motor carrier and broker entities. - Oversee Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), IRP apportioned registration, IFTA fuel tax licensing and reporting, BOC-3 process agent filings, and state-specific motor carrier registrations (e.g., Texas DMV). - Coordinate with Risk/Insurance to ensure required liability and cargo insurance filings (e.g., BMC-91/91X) and broker surety bonds (BMC-84/85) remain current. - Manage oversize/overweight, heavy-haul, and other special permits as required by operations. - Establish carrier vetting and onboarding standards for brokered and subcontracted carriers, including authority, insurance, and safety rating verification. Fleet & Equipment Compliance - Partner with Fleet Maintenance to ensure compliance with annual periodic inspections, driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs), and maintenance recordkeeping requirements. - Monitor roadside inspection results and vehicle and driver out-of-service rates against national averages, and drive corrective action at the terminal level. - Manage the DataQs process to challenge inaccurate inspection and crash data affecting CSA scores. - Evaluate and support the rollout of safety equipment and technology, such as collision mitigation systems, speed governance, and dual-facing cameras. Hazardous Materials & Cargo Security - Maintain PHMSA hazardous materials registration and oversee compliance with hazmat regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180), including shipping papers, placarding, and required hazmat employee training. - Develop and maintain hazmat security plans and ensure drivers hold required hazmat and TWIC endorsements where applicable. - Partner with Security and Operations on cargo theft prevention, supply chain security programs (e.g., CTPAT), and secure yard and trailer practices. Workplace Safety (OSHA) & Terminal Safety - Ensure U.S. terminals, yards, and docks comply with OSHA standards, including powered industrial truck (forklift) safety, dock and trailer safety, hazard communication, and emergency action plans. - Maintain OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping (Forms 300, 300A, and 301) and required electronic submissions. - Conduct terminal safety inspections and audits, and lead injury investigations and return-to-work coordination with Risk and P&O. - Support workers' compensation claims management and injury prevention programs to reduce lost-time incidents. Compliance Governance, Policy & Recordkeeping - Own and maintain written U.S. safety and compliance policies, including the DOT drug and alcohol policy, driver handbook safety provisions, and accident reporting procedures, in partnership with Legal and P&O. - Establish record retention standards for DQ files, HOS records, drug and alcohol testing records, maintenance files, and accident records in line with regulatory requirements, and support litigation holds as directed by Legal. - Manage relationships with compliance vendors, including third-party administrators, medical review officers, MVR and background screening providers, and compliance software platforms. - Support customer safety and compliance requirements, including audits, questionnaires, and contractual safety commitments. - Align U.S. safety and compliance practices with DSV global HSE standards, the DSV Code of Conduct, and internal audit requirements. Accident & Incident Management - Lead the accident and incident response process, including 24/7 escalation protocols, post-accident testing, scene documentation, and timely reporting. - Conduct or oversee root cause analyses and preventability determinations, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. - Maintain the DOT accident register and partner with Risk, Insurance, and Legal on claims management, litigation support, and loss reduction. - Analyze accident, injury, and claims trends to identify high-risk areas and prioritize prevention initiatives. Leadership & Strategy - Set the multi-year U.S. compliance and safety strategy, goals, and KPIs (e.g., accident frequency, preventable accident rate, CSA scores, DQ file compliance, out-of-service rates, OSHA recordable and lost-time injury rates, audit findings) and report performance to senior leadership. - Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of safety and compliance professionals across multiple terminals and regions. - Champion a proactive safety culture where drivers and leaders are empowered to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. - Manage the safety department budget and evaluate safety technologies, vendors, and third-party service providers. - Serve as the primary safety point of contact with regulators, insurers, customers, and industry associations. Qualifications Required - Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Transportation, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. - 10+ years of progressive safety and compliance experience in trucking or road transportation, including 5+ years in a safety leadership role. - In-depth knowledge of FMCSA/DOT regulations, including driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, HOS/ELD, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and CSA/SMS, as well as working knowledge of PHMSA hazmat and OSHA requirements. - Experience managing motor carrier operating authority, registrations, and regulatory filings (USDOT/MC, UCR, IRP, IFTA). - Proven track record of reducing accidents and improving CSA scores and compliance outcomes across a multi-location operation. - Demonstrated success leading DOT compliance reviews or audits with satisfactory outcomes. - Experience building and delivering driver orientation and training programs. - Strong data analysis skills with experience using telematics, camera, and safety management systems. - Ability to travel to terminals and field locations up to 15% of the time. Preferred - Certified Director of Safety (CDS), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) designation. - OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification. - Current or prior Class A CDL. - Experience with cross-border (U.S./Canada/Mexico) operations, hazmat, and owner-operator or third-party carrier programs. - Experience in a large, matrixed, global logistics organization. - Bilingual English/Spanish. Key Competencies - Safety Leadership: Inspires commitment to safety at every level, from drivers to senior leaders. - Regulatory Expertise: Interprets complex regulations and translates them into practical, consistent processes. - Compliance Governance: Builds disciplined, audit-ready systems, controls, and documentation across multiple locations. - Driver Engagement: Communicates credibly and respectfully with drivers and builds trust in the field. - Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses metrics and trends to prioritize risks and measure results. - Collaboration & Influence: Partners effectively with Operations, P&O, Recruiting, Legal, and Risk to balance safety and business needs. - Integrity & Sound Judgment: Makes firm, fair decisions in high-pressure situations. For this position, the expected base pay range is $140,000.00 - $175,000.00 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on job-related factors such as relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, and geographic location, in accordance with applicable laws and company policy. Information regarding DSV's benefits offerings, including eligibility, coverage options, and plan details, is available through the DSV Benefits Showcase. Benefits, programs, and eligibility may vary by location and division in accordance with applicable state and local laws.