Transportation Manager

Description ABOUT BLUE PEAK Blue Peak Tents is a rapidly growing event infrastructure company based in Batavia, Illinois. We provide tenting, structures, flooring, restroom trailers, generators, and related event services for corporate galas, estate weddings, festivals, and large-scale productions across the Chicagoland area and select national markets. Our fleet is the backbone of our field operations, and we are building a transportation function that can scale with the business and stand as a model for the broader organization. THE OPPORTUNITY We are hiring a Transportation Manager to take full ownership of the readiness, compliance, lifecycle, and people leadership of Blue Peak's transportation function. The mission is straightforward: when an asset and a driver are assigned to an event, the asset is road-ready and legally compliant, and the driver is qualified, safe, and accountable. Today this work is distributed across several people. Going forward it sits with one leader. This is an aspirational hire. The right candidate carries the Transportation Manager title and compensation from day one, with scope expanding over a structured 24-month development track as defined milestones are met. We are hiring above the immediate need on purpose. We want a leader who can stabilize and run transportation now, and who has the ceiling to grow into a senior operations partner as the business scales. If you are a proven leader who learns fast, builds systems where none exist, and holds a high standard, this role is built for you. We are particularly interested in junior military officers and others with strong leadership development backgrounds who are looking for a real ownership opportunity in a growing company. WHAT YOU WILL DO At full scope, the Transportation Manager owns the following. Scope phases in over the first 24 months against the milestones below. Fleet Operations and Readiness Own preventative maintenance, repair coordination, and field readiness for the entire fleet of vehicles, trailers, generators, and restroom trailers Manage third-party maintenance providers and hold them to PM cadence, turnaround, and cost standards; continuously evaluate whether the right partners and the right buy-versus-lease mix are in place Own pre-trip and post-trip inspection processes and the data that comes out of them Own cost-per-mile, total cost of ownership, and repair-versus-replace recommendations to leadership Compliance and Safety Own DOT and FMCSA compliance across the fleet, including inspection records, registration, insurance, IFTA, and IRP where applicable Carry indirect accountability for every CDL holder in the company; anyone who operates a regulated vehicle for Blue Peak operates inside the Transportation Manager's compliance program Lead monthly safety meetings with the driver pool, reinforce standards, and drive down preventable fleet damage People Leadership Lead the Fleet Equipment Technician and fleet technicians as the team comes online Lead the dedicated driver group as drivers transition into the transportation function Set the standard, cadence, and accountability culture for the team, removing the daily tactical load that currently sits on Field Operations leadership Vendor, Lease, and Capital Management Serve as Blue Peak's single point of contact for fleet vendors and leasing partners Manage active vehicle leases including mileage allowances, terms, expirations, excess mileage exposure, and buyout options Support capital planning by identifying replacement timing and fleet expansion needs tied to growth Strategic Partnership (Upside) Partner with the Director on strategic initiatives, including a planned off-season transportation capacity pilot designed to stabilize the driver base year-round and turn seasonal capacity into a revenue line Demonstrate the judgment and ceiling to take on broader operations scope as the organization grows WHERE THIS GOES A structured 24-month development track with clear milestones. The title and compensation are held from day one. Scope and team expand as each gate is met. Milestones are assessment points, not promotions. The end state is full, independent ownership of transportation and a confirmed mutual fit for broader scope as the company grows. MONTHS 0 to 6 Fleet Stabilization Complete a full fleet inventory and condition assessment. Establish vendor relationships and remediate any compliance gaps. By month 6, the PM schedule is running with no overdue units, DOT and registration are current, vehicle binders are complete and in every truck, and cost-per-mile data is flowing for road-worthy assets. MONTHS 6 to 12 Team and Standards Drivers begin transitioning into the function. The Fleet Equipment Technician onboards. Monthly driver safety meetings are established. The indirect CDL compliance program is stood up across all company CDL holders. Fleet technicians report into the role. Performance metrics are defined and baselined, and reporting cadence to the Director is dialed in. MONTHS 12 to 24 Full Scope Drivers and technicians run as a functional unit under the Transportation Manager. Performance tracks against baselined metrics and improves on them. The role operates with minimal day-to-day support from the Director. By month 24, full Transportation Manager scope is live and owned independently across fleet, drivers, technicians, compliance, vendors, and capital, with a clear view of whether the role should expand or evolve next. Requirements WHAT YOU BRING Required Proven leadership experience with direct responsibility for people, standards, and accountability Demonstrated ability to learn a new operating environment quickly and build systems and process where none exist Strong organizational discipline across multiple priorities, vendors, and deadlines Comfort with data, tracking tools, and clear reporting Valid driver's license with the ability to operate pickup and box trucks as needed for fleet positioning Preferred Junior military officer background or other strong leadership development pipeline. We value the discipline, ownership mindset, and ability to master regulated environments that this background builds Military experience in transportation, logistics, or motor pool operations Working knowledge of DOT regulations and commercial fleet compliance, or a clear track record of mastering regulated environments CDL Class A or B, or willingness to obtain Experience with leased fleet management or vendor and service contract management Experience in event, construction, or rental equipment industries COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Salary: $110,000 to $115,000 annually, held from day one. Full-time, exempt, year-round Health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match (per plan eligibility) Paid time off and paid holidays per the Blue Peak handbook Real growth opportunity tied to clearly defined milestones and the chance to take on broader operations scope as the company scales As the function matures, this role joins a weekend on-call rotation supporting field operations escalation #J-18808-Ljbffr