Transportation Manager

Job Title: Transportation Manager

Job Description

The Transportation Manager will lead the company's transportation and logistics strategy, focusing on analyzing annual logistics spend and identifying opportunities to improve cost, service, and operational performance. This is a highly visible role that requires interaction with leadership and various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve transportation and logistics strategies.

• Analyze approximately $30 million in annual transportation and logistics spend to identify trends, inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities.

• Translate complex transportation data into clear findings and actionable business strategies.

• Develop and execute freight savings initiatives in collaboration with plant operations, purchasing, finance, suppliers, and third-party logistics providers.

• Manage competitive transportation bids, carrier sourcing initiatives, and requests for quotation.

• Lead freight and logistics negotiations to secure competitive pricing and favorable terms.

• Evaluate carrier, lane, route, mode, and supplier performance for network optimization.

• Develop, track, and communicate key transportation metrics and performance indicators.

• Prepare reports and presentations for leadership regarding transportation spend and performance.

• Manage relationships with third-party logistics providers, carriers, brokers, and other transportation partners.

• Partner with manufacturing locations and material planning and logistics teams to execute transportation strategies effectively.

• Support annual freight budgeting, monthly freight accruals, invoice review, and freight payment activities.

• Provide transportation cost input for new production quotes, intercompany movements, product launches, and part transfers.

• Monitor changes in transportation routes and volumes and address potential cost or service impacts.

• Support domestic and international shipping activities, including coordination with customs brokers and trade compliance partners.

• Ensure compliance with applicable state, federal, import, and export requirements.

• Investigate and resolve freight claims, shipment issues, and carrier performance concerns.

• Independently manage projects, priorities, and deliverables while keeping stakeholders informed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, Analytics, or a related field.

• At least 5 years of progressive transportation, logistics, freight management, or supply chain experience.

• Strong understanding of transportation spend, freight pricing, carrier management, and logistics cost drivers.

• Ability to analyze large or complex data sets and identify meaningful trends and cost-saving opportunities.

• Experience developing and implementing transportation or logistics improvement initiatives.

• Experience conducting freight bids, managing RFQs, and negotiating with carriers or logistics providers.

• Strong knowledge of transportation performance metrics and reporting.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for organizing, analyzing, and presenting transportation data.

• Ability to independently manage projects and drive initiatives from analysis through implementation.

• Strong presentation and communication skills for explaining findings to leadership.

• Ability to work cross-functionally with various departments and external partners.

• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 20%.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting transportation or logistics within a manufacturing environment.

• International shipping, import, or export experience.

• Experience working with third-party logistics providers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, or trade compliance partners.

• Experience managing a substantial transportation or freight spend.

• Experience with transportation management systems, ERP platforms, freight audit systems, or business intelligence tools.

• Experience preparing freight budgets, accruals, forecasts, or executive-level transportation reporting.

• Knowledge of automotive, industrial, or high-volume manufacturing supply chains.

Work Environment

This position requires 100% in-office work, with the option to be based at the Lebanon, TN site or Troy, MI site. The role involves working with cutting-edge technologies and provides the autonomy to run the department like your own company without micromanagement.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Lebanon, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $110000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

401k Health Dental Vision

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Lebanon,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.