Transportation Manager (Inland Trucking)

Job Title: Manager - Inland Trucking Location: Elk Grove Village, IL Client Partnership: We are partnering with a well-established, Japanese-owned global logistics, supply chain, and freight forwarding organization who has been operating in the US for over 50+ years. Role Overview We are seeking an experienced and operationally focused Manager, Inland Trucking to lead the day-to-day activities of the Inland Transportation department. This position is responsible for overseeing domestic freight brokerage operations, quoting, shipment execution, service quality, carrier relationships, team performance, and effective use of the Transportation Management System (TMS). Reporting to the Director of Inland Transportation, the Manager, Inland Trucking provides leadership to Inland Transportation employees and BPO resources while maintaining high standards of customer service, operational execution, data integrity, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. This role partners closely with Sales, Compliance, regional branches, and other internal stakeholders to deliver reliable, cost-effective, and compliant transportation solutions that support our customers’ global supply chain needs. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operations Management Lead and oversee daily domestic transportation and freight brokerage operations, including quoting, shipment execution, tracking, and service quality. Ensure timely and accurate responses to customer, sales, carrier, and branch requests. Monitor operational activity to identify service risks, shipment delays, capacity concerns, and other issues requiring escalation. Resolve or coordinate the resolution of critical shipment issues, service failures, claims, and customer concerns. Ensure all departmental activities are completed in accordance with established standard operating procedures, service expectations, and internal controls. Maintain visibility into workload volume, team capacity, shipment status, and service performance. Team Leadership and Development Supervise, coach, and support Inland Transportation coordinators, staff members, and BPO resources. Establish clear performance expectations and promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. Conduct regular performance discussions, provide coaching, and identify development opportunities and training needs. Support the onboarding, training, and professional development of new team members. Ensure team members maintain proficiency in TMS use, customer service practices, transportation operations, and applicable compliance requirements. Transportation Management System and Process Improvement Ensure all applicable quotes, bookings, shipment updates, and transportation activity are accurately entered and maintained in the TMS. Promote strong system adoption, data quality, and adherence to established workflows. Identify opportunities to improve automation, reduce manual work, enhance reporting, and strengthen operational visibility. Partner with leadership and internal stakeholders to develop dashboards, KPIs, reports, and other performance-management tools. Support the implementation, testing, refinement, and adoption of new transportation technology and process improvements. Carrier Management and Procurement Support Support carrier sourcing, selection, capacity planning, and procurement initiatives. Build and maintain productive working relationships with carriers, brokers, and other transportation vendors. Monitor carrier performance, service quality, safety standards, claims history, pricing, and reliability. Participate in carrier pricing discussions, rate negotiations, and strategic procurement initiatives. Assist with carrier onboarding, vetting, insurance verification, and required compliance documentation. Strategy, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement Identify opportunities to improve routing, shipment consolidation, service levels, capacity utilization, and transportation cost efficiency. Review operational KPIs and reporting to identify trends, performance gaps, and areas for improvement. Recommend and implement practical process improvements that strengthen service quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Ensure compliance with applicable transportation laws, DOT and FMCSA requirements, company policies, and safety procedures. Partner with Compliance and Risk Management teams on carrier compliance, fraud prevention, safety concerns, claims, accidents, and corrective actions. Maintain complete and accurate operational records to support reporting, audits, safety initiatives, and compliance requirements. Assist with the development and maintenance of departmental policies, SOPs, training materials, and operational manuals. Support department-wide projects, technology implementation plans, and strategic growth initiatives. Customer and Cross-Functional Partnership Partner with Sales, regional branch offices, Compliance, and other internal teams to provide coordinated transportation support. Serve as an escalation point for key customer issues and provide clear, timely communication regarding shipment status and resolution efforts. Promote effective communication across teams to support seamless execution and a positive customer experience. Support initiatives that improve the Inland Transportation department’s service model, processes, and overall performance. Qualifications Minimum of 7 years of experience in domestic freight brokerage, transportation, logistics, or a related field. Minimum of 3 years of leadership , supervisory, or team-management experience. Experience with full truckload, less-than-truckload, and cross-border transportation operations. Working knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and applicable transportation compliance requirements. Experience using transportation management systems and transportation-related technology platforms. Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop employees, manage competing priorities, and deliver a high level of customer service. Strong communication, relationship-building, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Strong analytical skills and the ability to use operational data and performance metrics to drive improvement. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume transportation environment. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or a related field Experience supporting transportation activity involving Canada and Mexico . Experience with carrier sourcing, carrier qualification, transportation procurement, and rate negotiation. Experience with TMS implementation, systems integration, workflow design, or process automation. Experience developing SOPs, training materials, dashboards, and operational reports. Strong background in domestic freight brokerage and carrier management. (This is truncated job description and may be expanded or revised.) Compensation The projected annual salary is estimated at $70,000 - $80,000 per year, based on years of demonstrated experience, representing the span of the range. The actual compensation will be formulated by the client and may vary based on factors that include, but are not limited to, the position offered, work experience, education, training, and commensurate experience. Equal Opportunity Employer Talent Xpanse and our clients is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected, and where differences are embraced as strengths. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes equality and celebrates diversity. #J-18808-Ljbffr Talent Xpanse