Zone Skip Manager - Freight Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Founded in 1981, Lanter Delivery Systems is a national logistics company and a leader in overnight, unattended delivery of auto, agricultural and industrial parts from their customer's distribution centers to dealer locations. In the 21st century we live in a business culture that demands cost and logistical efficiencies combined with increased productivity. Lanter's strategic, process driven approach has been embraced by the marketplace and is setting new standards in the automotive and agricultural manufacturing marketplace. We see a bright future on the road before us and we are very excited about bringing our solutions to a variety of new industries.

The ideal candidate will embody our company's Non-Negotiables:

• Walk in Humble Confidence - We are experts at what we do, but we never assume we know everything
• Be Open, Honest and Respectful - We say what has to be said in a tactful, courteous way
• Be Fearless - We never fail, we only learn
• We are One Team - We achieve more together by collaboration and consensus
• Delivery on Commitments - We do what we say we will do
• We have a Passion to Serve - We are dedicated, hardworking individuals who provide exceptional service to our customers and to each other
• We put Safety First - We prioritize the safety of our team members and customers above all else in our business
• We Strive for Operational Excellence - We are dedicated to a culture of continuous improvements, driving quality and productivity

Position Summary:

The Zone Skip Manager ensures zone-skip freight moves through the hub accurately, efficiently, and within required service windows. Reporting to the Hub Manager, this role oversees nightly freight flow, sequencing, and visibility. It makes time-sensitive routing and prioritization decisions when operating conditions change.

The position serves as the primary operational contact for zone-skip activity, coordinating with third-party carrier leadership, Account Management, Customer Service, and other internal partners. Through process ownership and partnership rather than direct supervision, it aligns priorities, resolves exceptions, and supports timely releases, accurate reporting, and consistent service outcomes.

Essential Duties and Key Deliverables:

• Own nightly zone-skip execution, adjusting the freight plan as arrival times, volumes, capacity, or other operating conditions change to protect established service windows.
• Plan and sequence freight using sort codes, destination requirements, expected volume, available capacity, release times, and inbound and outbound schedules to assign freight to the appropriate outbound movement.
• Communicate Lanter’s required freight outcomes, priorities, and sequencing needs to the third-party carrier’s dock supervisor and coordinate operational exceptions without directing carrier personnel or work methods.
• Use scanning and operational checks to confirm freight is routed to the correct destination and loaded onto the appropriate outbound movement.
• Identify and resolve free-astray freight, damage scans, missed releases, and other processing exceptions.
• Research unlabeled, misrouted, returned, or unidentified parts and assets using available systems and partner with Account Management and Customer Service to determine ownership and proper routing.
• Prepare and distribute routine reporting on inbound and outbound times, release performance, volume, available capacity, damage scans, free-astray activity, and related service measures using TViz, Parcel Search, and Excel. 
• Provide timely shipment updates and escalate service risks with clear facts and recommended next steps.
• Provide operational input on freight flow, capacity, routing, and hub readiness as new zone-skip business is evaluated and launched.
• Promote safe, organized, and efficient operations by supporting Lanter’s Safety First expectations, 5S practices, quality controls, standard work, and continuous improvement efforts.

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least three years of experience coordinating time-sensitive freight flow or sequencing in high-volume logistics, cross-dock, hub, parcel, or freight operations.
• Ability to work independently, balance competing priorities, make sound operating decisions, and escalate risks in a time-sensitive environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to interpret sort codes, shipment data, schedules, routing requirements, and capacity information.
• Experience using freight-tracking, warehouse, scanning, or similar operational systems, along with working proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to communicate clearly and coordinate effectively across internal and external partners.
• Ability to lead through influence and process ownership to achieve required outcomes without direct authority over partner personnel.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in zone-skip, hub-and-spoke, parcel, freight-sequencing, or automotive or industrial parts operations.
• Experience coordinating freight priorities and service outcomes with third-party carriers or outsourced dock operations.
• Working knowledge of Lean, 5S, standard work, quality control, or other continuous-improvement practices.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. 

Position Type:

This is a full-time, exempt position that generally works an overnight schedule. Specific hours and weekend coverage may vary based on operational needs.

Travel:

No regular travel is required for this position.

Work Environment:

This job operates primarily in a warehouse, dock, or distribution environment. The role routinely works near moving equipment and warehouse traffic and may be exposed to varying temperatures, noise, and other conditions common to a logistics operation. The team member regularly uses a computer, handheld scanner, phone, and other job-related technology and must be able to move safely throughout the work area while monitoring freight activity.

Physical Demands:

The team member is regularly required to stand, walk, observe freight movement, communicate verbally and in writing, and use a computer, handheld scanner, and other job-related equipment. The team member may occasionally be required to bend, reach, climb, push, pull, or lift up to 15 pounds. This role is not responsible for loading or unloading freight.

Other Duties:

This job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the team member for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may vary by location based on business needs and may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement:

Lanter Delivery Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all team members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Lanter Delivery Systems complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Lanter Delivery Systems expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Lanter Delivery Systems team members to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Monday to Friday
8:00pm to 5:00am