Job Title: Director of Transportation
Location:Syracuse, NY (onsite)
Job Summary:The Director of Transportation is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight of the Transportation Department. This role is accountable for transportation operations, regulatory compliance, financial performance, business growth, and continuous improvement across the organization. The Director of Transportation will identify and expand freight brokerage opportunities, develop and manage annual budgets, oversee driver recruitment and retention strategies, implement department-specific training programs, and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence. This position plays a critical role in supporting G&C Foods business objectives, customer service commitments, and long-term growth.
Duties and Responsibilities:- Direct and oversee daily transportation and logistics operations, including the management of personnel, delegation of responsibilities, performance monitoring, and execution of departmental objectives.
- Establish, implement, and maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local transportation regulations, including Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements.
- Oversee transportation safety programs, driver qualification standards, Hours of Service compliance, electronic logging device (ELD) requirements, and other applicable regulatory obligations.
- Develop, manage, and monitor the annual departmental budget, including expense control, financial forecasting, cost-reduction initiatives, and resource allocation.
- Establish and maintain competitive freight rates, negotiate carrier agreements, manage contracts, and oversee relationships with third-party logistics providers and transportation partners.
- Identify, develop, and expand freight brokerage opportunities to increase revenue, improve transportation capacity, and support business growth.
- Develop and execute strategic plans for the Transportation and Logistics Departments that align with company goals, operational needs, and long-term business objectives.
- Evaluate existing transportation operations, including equipment, processes, staffing, technology, and delivery methods, to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, service, and cost effectiveness.
- Oversee fleet utilization, equipment planning, preventive maintenance coordination, and asset replacement strategies to maximize reliability and operational performance.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate departmental performance, including on-time delivery, transportation costs, driver retention, safety performance, equipment utilization, and customer service.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives and strategic projects in collaboration with Warehouse, Sales, Customer Service, Human Resources, Finance, and other departments to improve operational performance and achieve business objectives.
- Evaluate and implement transportation technology, including transportation management systems (TMS), route optimization tools, telematics, and reporting solutions, to improve visibility, efficiency, and decision-making.
- Develop and implement driver recruitment, onboarding, training, and retention strategies in partnership with Human Resources and departmental leadership.
- Foster a positive, safety-focused work environment that promotes employee engagement, accountability, professional development, and retention.
- Provide coaching, direction, and leadership support to managers, supervisors, and other team members to strengthen leadership capabilities, improve performance, and support succession planning.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for direct reports, ensuring departmental goals, policies, and procedures are consistently executed.
- Conduct and oversee performance evaluations, identify development opportunities, and implement corrective action when necessary.
- Monitor customer service performance and address transportation-related customer complaints, service failures, and escalated operational issues in a timely and professional manner.
- Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce operating costs, improve delivery performance, and support customer satisfaction.
- Establish and maintain business continuity and contingency plans to address transportation disruptions, severe weather, equipment failures, staffing shortages, and other operational risks.
- Prepare and communicate regular reports on departmental performance, financial results, operational risks, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership.
- Support the implementation and consistent application of company programs, policies, procedures, and initiatives that promote operational effectiveness and competitive advantage.
- Ensure departmental processes, staffing, and resources are aligned with company objectives and evolving business needs.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Position Qualifications/Education Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, or fleet operations, including at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale transportation operations, managing multiple functional areas, and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong knowledge of applicable federal and state transportation regulations, including Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, hours-of-service requirements, driver qualification standards, and transportation safety programs.
- Experience overseeing fleet operations, vehicle utilization, maintenance coordination, equipment planning, and transportation capacity management.
- Proven ability to develop and manage annual operating budgets, monitor expenses, analyze financial performance, and implement cost-control initiatives.
- Experience developing and expanding freight brokerage opportunities, negotiating carrier rates, managing third-party logistics providers, and establishing strategic transportation partnerships.
- Demonstrated ability to establish key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze operational data, improve delivery performance, control costs, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience developing driver recruitment strategies, improving retention, supporting driver engagement, and implementing training and development programs.
- Ability to develop and execute long-term transportation strategies that support business growth, customer service objectives, and operational scalability.
- Strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and communication skills, with the ability to coach managers and supervisors and promote a culture of accountability.
- Ability to travel between company facilities and transportation locations as business needs require.
- Experience in food distribution, refrigerated or frozen transportation, or other temperature-controlled logistics environments preferred.
- Demonstrated success implementing new processes, technology, organizational changes, or operational improvement initiatives.
Contact/Application Information:If you're interested, please apply through Indeed. If you have any questions, you can email [redacted]. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to meeting you!
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