Sr. Manager, Transportation, PA

Job Overview

The Senior Transportation Manager is responsible for overseeing transportation operations across Baldor's Philadelphia facility and North Jersey cross-dock, ensuring safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective delivery operations. This position provides leadership to transportation managers, supervisors, and coordinators while overseeing approximately 160 commercial drivers, more than 100 vehicles, and a network of over 100 delivery routes.

The role is accountable for daily transportation execution, routing and dispatch, fleet management, DOT compliance, labor and expense management, customer service, and continuous improvement. The Senior Transportation Manager develops transportation leaders, establishes operational standards, monitors performance metrics, and partners with cross-functional teams to ensure transportation resources align with business demands and service expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Transportation Operations & Service Delivery

• Oversee daily transportation operations across the Philadelphia facility and North Jersey cross-dock, including routing, dispatch, driver assignments, route coverage, and delivery performance.
• Ensure safe, timely, and accurate deliveries while maintaining product quality and customer service standards.
• Monitor route performance, delivery schedules, and service levels; address delays, missed deliveries, and operational disruptions.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, equipment availability, and contingency planning to support daily volume and changing business needs.
• Partner with Warehouse and Cross-Dock leadership to coordinate loading schedules, outbound operations, and transportation capacity.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop transportation managers, supervisors, and coordinators, establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Provide oversight of approximately 160 commercial drivers across multiple locations and shifts.
• Conduct regular leadership meetings, performance evaluations, and development discussions to strengthen operational execution and leadership capabilities.
• Support workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, employee development, and succession planning.
• Address employee performance, attendance, and conduct matters in partnership with Human Resources.
• Promote consistent communication, teamwork, and adherence to company policies and procedures.

Routing, Productivity & Financial Management

• Oversee routing and dispatch strategies to optimize delivery schedules, driver utilization, equipment capacity, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate route productivity, mileage, delivery stops, driver hours, and transportation costs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Manage transportation labor expenses, overtime, staffing levels, and operating costs within approved budgets.
• Review operational and financial performance reports, identify trends, and implement corrective action plans.
  Recommend improvements to route structure, territory coverage, staffing models, and transportation processes.
• Prepare and present transportation performance results, cost analyses, and operational recommendations to senior leadership.

Fleet & Equipment Management

• Oversee fleet readiness, utilization, and maintenance for more than 100 CDL and non-CDL vehicles, including tractor-trailer operations.
• Ensure preventive maintenance, vehicle inspections, repairs, registrations, and required documentation are completed timely.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams, external vendors, and service providers to minimize equipment downtime and control expenses.
• Monitor fleet utilization, repair trends, and equipment availability to support operational needs.
• Evaluate equipment replacement needs and recommend fleet improvements based on business demands.

Safety & DOT Compliance

• Ensure transportation operations comply with applicable DOT, FMCSA, federal, state, and local transportation regulations.
• Oversee driver qualification requirements, hours-of-service compliance, license and medical certifications, required testing, and regulatory documentation.
• Ensure completion of driver onboarding, road tests, safety training, ride-alongs, and ongoing performance assessments.
• Review vehicle accidents, safety incidents, and compliance concerns; coordinate investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Conduct routine safety audits, vehicle inspections, and operational assessments to identify and mitigate risks.
• Monitor safety performance metrics and reinforce safe driving practices and accountability across the transportation organization.

Operations Administration & Continuous Support

• Oversee payroll and timekeeping accuracy, employee documentation, and transportation administrative processes.
• Utilize routing, GPS, fleet tracking, workforce management, and operational reporting systems to monitor performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, service reliability, labor efficiency, and operational consistency.
• Develop measurable improvement plans and monitor progress against established performance expectations.
• Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Customer Service, Human Resources, Finance, Food Safety, and other departments to support business objectives.
• Lead transportation initiatives, process improvements, and special projects as assigned.
• Ensure consistent application of Baldor policies, procedures, and operating standards across locations.

Job Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading transportation managers, supervisors, and frontline employees.
  Strong knowledge of DOT and FMCSA regulations, hours-of-service requirements, driver qualifications, and commercial fleet compliance.
• Experience managing CDL and non-CDL transportation operations, including tractor-trailer fleets.
• Working knowledge of routing, dispatch, fleet management, transportation cost controls, and operational performance metrics.
• Proficiency with transportation management systems, routing software, GPS tracking, workforce management systems, and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong analytical and financial management skills, with the ability to interpret operational data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, resolve operational challenges, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and employee development skills.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Transportation, Logistics, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in transportation management, logistics, or distribution operations, including experience overseeing large driver teams and multiple operating locations.

Work Environment

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Work is performed in office, transportation yard, warehouse, cross-dock, and active distribution environments.
• Requires regular travel between the Philadelphia facility and North Jersey cross-dock, with occasional visits to customer locations or delivery routes.
• Must be available to work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on operational needs.
• Requires frequent walking and standing during facility, yard, and vehicle inspections, as well as prolonged sitting while performing administrative duties.
• May involve exposure to moving vehicles, powered industrial equipment, varying temperatures, outdoor weather conditions, and elevated noise levels.
• Must be able to perform essential job functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

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