Transportation Manager

Transportation Manager Company: Southland Trucking Incorporated Location: Amite, Louisiana Position Type: Full-Time Supervises: Trucking Coordinator / Logistics Assistant; day-to-day direction of approximately ten CDL flatbed drivers Position Summary The Transportation Manager leads Southland's trucking operation and is accountable for its safety, service, and financial results. This is a senior management position that drives the performance and growth of the fleet and works directly with executive leadership. The Trucking Coordinator, who handles load entry, billing, and paperwork, reports to this role. The Transportation Manager owns dispatch, driver monitoring and performance, accurate and timely invoicing, the fleet's profit and loss (P&L), DOT/FMCSA compliance, and fleet efficiency, and sets the direction for how the operation improves. Technology is central to how this work gets done. The role relies every day on ShipTrak, Southland's in-house platform for loads, dispatch, customer requests, and billing, and on Motive (ELD, GPS, dashcams, DVIRs, fuel and safety data), and works with Southland's application team to keep our systems running smoothly. They are also responsible for meeting the reasonable expectations of Project Managers with a high customer service score. The ideal candidate is a proven operations leader who can set direction, hold people accountable, and still step in on a call with a driver at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m. Programming is not required, but comfort with technology is. highly preferred. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Leadership Drive the overall performance of the trucking operation, including safety, on-time service, utilization, and profitability. Set operating goals and KPIs with executive leadership and hold the team accountable to them. Build and improve the processes, policies, and controls that allow the operation to grow. Identify growth opportunities, including new lanes, customers, backhauls, and brokerage capacity. Recommend equipment, staffing, and technology investments to executive leadership with a clear business case. Partner with Southland facilities and executive leadership to align transportation with production and delivery needs. Fleet Operations and Dispatch Lead daily planning, dispatch, and driver scheduling to maximize utilization and on-time delivery. Build local and regional routes around delivery windows, production schedules, and customer requirements. Use ShipTrak and Motive to track loads, manage exceptions, and keep customers updated in real time. Respond promptly to customer shipping requests and keep load status current so customers can see where their freight is. Reduce deadhead miles and idle time; find and book backhauls and brokered loads when company trucks are available. Coordinate with Southland production, sales, and yard teams so freight is ready when trucks arrive. Driver Monitoring and Team Leadership Monitor driver activity daily in Motive, including location, hours of service, idle time, speeding, harsh braking, and dashcam events. Review driver performance regularly; coach drivers, recognize strong performers, and document corrective actions. Lead and develop the Trucking Coordinator and the driver team. Lead recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training of drivers, including training on Motive and company applications. Manage attendance, performance, and disciplinary actions in partnership with Human Resources. Conduct regular safety meetings and maintain open, respectful communication with drivers. Invoicing and P&L Own the fleet's P&L, tracking revenue, fuel, maintenance, driver pay, tolls, insurance, and brokerage costs against budget. Develop the annual trucking budget with executive leadership and manage the operation to it. Monitor revenue per mile, cost per mile, and margin by load, lane, and customer; take action on loads and lanes that are not profitable. Ensure every delivered load is invoiced accurately and promptly; review th…

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