Director of Transportation

Location:

Detroit, MIFerrous Processing & Trading has an immediate need for a Director of Transportation at the Detroit, Michigan headquarters. The Director will be responsible for spearheading freight and trucking, and rail transportation operations to drive efficiency, secure cost savings, and support the fulfillment of organizational objectives.

This role will oversee the transportation of inbound scrap materials and outbound finished products via truck and rail, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective operations across the organization. This position will also leverage data, systems, and emerging technologies to improve decision-making, increase visibility, and better manage the dynamic nature of scrap and commodity markets.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Plan, organize, direct, and control operations of trucking and freight, and rail transportation operations, overseeing the dispatch, maintenance, and service of the fleet while managing rail carrier relationships and performance.

Oversee day-to-day logistics of scrap material transportation, including inbound raw scrap and outbound finished metal shipments across yards, mills, and customer locations and rail-served facilities.

Manage and optimize routing, load planning, railcar utilization, and backhaul opportunities to maximize fleet utilization and minimize empty miles; leverage TMS, market data, and AI-driven tools to optimize routing, load matching, and carrier selection and mode decisions in a high-volume scrap environment.

Negotiate contracts and pricing with carriers, railroads, transload providers, warehouse operators, and insurance company representatives for services, securing preferred rates.

Maintain departmental budget, identifying and pursuing potential cost savings and operational efficiencies across truck and rail networks.

Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including DOT, FMCSA, FRA, OSHA, and environmental requirements, maintaining proper documentation and records.

Partner with yard operations, procurement, and sales teams to align transportation scheduling with production demands, inventory flow, and customer commitments and rail service schedules.

Oversee fleet lifecycle management, including equipment procurement, maintenance strategy, and vendor relationships for specialized equipment.

Monitor key transportation metrics, including cost per ton, on-time delivery, railcar cycle times, driver productivity, fuel efficiency, and safety performance, implementing improvements as needed.

Manage rail transportation activities, including railcar procurement and leasing, railcar tracking, carrier performance monitoring, demurrage mitigation, and coordination with Class I and short-line railroads.

Lead contingency planning efforts to address supply chain disruptions, rail service interruptions, seasonal fluctuations, and commodity-driven volume changes.

Minimum Qualifications:

5+ years of experience managing transportation within the manufacturing, industrial, or logistics industry, preferably within steel, scrap, or bulk commodities

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered

Experience in scrap, recycling, heavy haul, or bulk commodity logistics and/or rail logistics

Strong data analysis capability and ability to generate reports, communicating insights effectively to executive leadership

Demonstrated experience managing private or dedicated fleet operations, including drivers, dispatch, and maintenance in a high-volume environment and/or rail transportation programs

In-depth knowledge of DOT regulations, driver hours-of-service (HOS), ELD systems, and transportation compliance requirements with exposure to rail transportation regulations and operating practices

Proven leadership in safety program development, regulatory compliance, and incident reduction within fleet operations

Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment driven by commodity markets and operational variability

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred

Proficiency with…