Dispatch Manager

The Transportation Manager plans, coordinates, and improves the safe and efficient transportation of finished products to customers and project sites. This position oversees drivers, fleet utilization, delivery scheduling, regulatory compliance, transportation costs, and third-party carriers. The Transportation Manager works closely with Sales, Production, Yard Operations, Customer Service, and Plant Management to ensure deliveries are completed safely, on time, and within budget.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan and coordinate daily and weekly delivery schedules.
• Match available trucks, trailers, drivers, and outside carriers with delivery requirements.
• Coordinate with Production and Yard Operations to confirm products are ready before dispatch.
• Monitor deliveries and address delays, breakdowns, site restrictions, and schedule changes.
• Provide drivers with accurate delivery instructions, jobsite information, permits, and documentation.
• Communicate delivery changes and service issues promptly to customers and internal teams.
• Balance company fleet utilization with outside carrier capacity.
• Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, state, and company transportation requirements.
• Maintain driver qualification files, vehicle records, permits, registrations, and required documentation.
• Monitor hours of service, electronic logs, vehicle inspections, load securement, and driver performance.
• Lead transportation safety meetings and driver training.
• Investigate accidents and delivery-related incidents; implement and track corrective actions.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, inspections, and repairs for trucks and trailers.
• Monitor fleet availability and minimize equipment downtime.
• Maintain records for maintenance costs, fuel usage, mileage, and equipment condition.
• Recommend vehicle replacement or capital investment based on operating costs and fleet needs.
• Monitor transportation cost per mile, hour, delivery, and as a percentage of sales.
• Review overtime, fuel usage, empty miles, detention time, and third-party freight costs.
• Approve and verify freight invoices and supporting delivery documentation.
• Improve routing, backhauls, load utilization, and delivery efficiency.
• Prepare transportation budgets, forecasts, and monthly performance reports.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate drivers, dispatchers, and transportation employees.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and develop transportation personnel.
• Establish expectations for safety, attendance, equipment care, service, and performance.
• Coordinate jobsite access, unloading conditions, delivery windows, and special equipment needs.
• Resolve delivery complaints and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Coordinate oversized or overweight loads, permits, routing, and pilot vehicles.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor on-time delivery, preventable accidents, fleet utilization, fuel efficiency, empty miles, equipment downtime, and customer delivery complaints.
• Develop cross-training and succession plans for key transportation positions.
• Lead continuous-improvement projects related to safety, service, and transportation cost.

JOB SCOPE:

• Manages day-to-day transportation operations and responds to changing production schedules, customer requirements, equipment availability, and jobsite conditions.
• Makes operating decisions that affect safety, customer service, fleet utilization, freight cost, and company performance.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:

• Collaborates with drivers, dispatchers, Sales, Production, Yard Operations, Customer Service, Plant Management, customers, contractors, regulatory agencies, vendors, and third-party carriers.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Working knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, hours-of-service, vehicle inspection, and load-securement requirements.
• Experience managing commercial drivers, fleet maintenance, and third-party carriers.
• Strong scheduling, communication, problem-solving, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced operating environment.
• Ability to analyze transportation costs and develop budgets, forecasts, and performance reports.
• Ability to communicate professionally with employees, customers, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Proficiency with transportation-management systems, electronic logging systems, GPS tracking, Microsoft Excel, and related business software.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record; commercial driver's license preferred but not required.

EDUCATION/

EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in transportation, logistics, supply chain, business, or a related field preferred.
• Five or more years of transportation, dispatch, fleet, or logistics experience preferred.
• Three…