Manager of Outbound Freight

At Bell Lumber & Pole, we’re looking for a driven, strategic, and hands-on Manager of Outbound Freight to lead our outbound transportation operations and keep our supply chain moving. In this role, you’ll own freight strategy and execution across truckload (TL/LTL), rail, transloading, and international import/export, ensuring shipments move safely, efficiently, and on time. You’ll build strong carrier partnerships, identify opportunities to optimize transportation costs, protect freight margins, and develop key customer relationships, all while delivering an exceptional customer experience. This is an opportunity to combine big-picture thinking with hands-on leadership, drive continuous improvement, and make a measurable impact on operational performance and profitability. As part of our team, you’ll bring our mission to life by radically loving and influencing lives, working collaboratively, leading with excellence, stewarding resources responsibly, and embracing an entrepreneurial spirit. As the Manager of Outbound Freight, you will: Oversee daily dispatch operations for truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, ensuring efficient routing, load consolidation, and equipment availability. Direct outbound rail shipping strategies, fleet/car management, rail spot placement, and transload facility operations to streamline wood and steel pole freight movement. Oversee cross-border and international shipments (ocean, air, and international rail/trucking), ensuring compliance with customs regulations, export documentation (Incoterms, Bills of Lading, Commercial Invoices), and port/terminal workflows. Manage carrier negotiations, spot market bidding, and contracted rate structures to maintain and grow positive freight margins. Analyze freight costs, accessorial fees, detention/demurrage charges, and fuel surcharges to identify cost-saving initiatives and protect overall profitability. Work with finance to review and approve freight invoices, ensuring strict adherence to contracted rates and prompt dispute resolution. Serve as the primary logistics point of contact for key client accounts, conducting regular reviews and aligning freight strategies with client service-level agreements (SLAs). Collaborate closely with Sales and Customer Service teams to provide clear shipping visibility, proactive updates, and swift problem resolution. Act as an escalation point for delivery delays, freight damage claims, rerouting requests, or customs holds. Monitor, track, and drive improvement in OTD scores across all transport modes through root-cause analysis of delays and carrier scorecarding. Establish, track, and report on key operational metrics, including carrier acceptance rates, transit times, freight cost per unit/ton, and customer satisfaction scores. Identify bottlenecks in dispatch, transloading, or documentation processes and implement lean standard operating procedures (SOPs). Achieve and maintain standard target (e.g., 95–98% OTD). 99% for Key Customers Maintain target gross freight margins and achieve cost reduction targets annually. Maintain secondary/primary carrier tender acceptance rates and minimize spot market reliance. Meet or exceed key customer shipping and communication SLAs. Minimize non-standard logistics charges across rail, ocean, and motor carriers. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee may be required to perform other duties and assume additional responsibilities as needed or requested to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. Qualifications: Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant operational experience. Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in freight management, dispatch, or outbound logistics. Other Requirements: Proficiency in Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Enterprise Resource Plann…

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