What does a Director of Transportation do?
Transportation managers ensure shipments into or out of the organization or company where they work are quick, within budget, and safely handled. They oversee the transfer of equipment or personnel as operated by the organization. They are responsible for the development of department policies and procedures, and for personnel activities and schedules, and they oversee shipment coordination and routing.
Transportation managers might sometimes need to coordinate with outside service providers including messenger services, freight shippers, and transporters. They prepare the department’s budgets and schedules and ensure company shipping and safety procedures and protocols continue to run smoothly. They also ensure that all shipping documents are correctly prepared and filled out, and they research and correct problems that arrive throughout the work day. Transportation managers develop hands-on fluency with current laws about shipping and hauling, including the transportation of hazardous materials, freight classification, and the safety of employees. They also direct teams about the maintenance and repair or replacement of shipping fleets and equipment, and the scheduling of daily routines. Transportation managers need a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or logistics.
- Ensure compliance with all safety, hazmat and DOT requirements.
- Effectively and efficiently handle customer service complaints and concerns.
- Fill out appropriate log(s), forms and paperwork, as required.
- Control the movement of contractor personnel, materials and equipment.
- Responsible for planning of driver vacations, future books offs and run change assignment.
- Report and investigate all accidents by assigned transportation officers.
- Ensure sound cash control and maintain GLI field accounting standards.
- Review weekly performance reports, and achieve quarterly performance quotas.
- Accurately document all field observations and ensure file maintenance.
- Investigate and resolve issues submitted by customers, carriers and/or clients. provide follow-up and reporting as required.
- Lift objects of various shapes, sizes and weights up to 25 lbs.
- Review daily reports to ensure productivity by all operators.
- Ensure preventive maintenance on trucks is performed on a timely basis.
- Contact parents concerning discipline matters and conduct parent conferences as needed.
- Maintain punctuality in daily work times, appointments, and meetings.
- Promptly solve problems to the maximum satisfaction of our customer(s).
- Drive carrier and forwarder performance and implementations at shipping sites.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in business, civil engineering, computer science or engineering, or equivalent experience.
- A professional and leader at all times.
- Sound collaboration capabilities and attention to details.
- Comfortable leading during negotiation, selecting, budget planning, inventorying, and loading exercises.
- A critical thinker with an eye for continuous improvement.
- Comfortable with network architecture and backup and recovery.
- Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills.
- Experience with Google and C software and systems.
How much does a Director Of Transportation make?
Director of Transportation Career Path
Learn how to become a Director of Transportation, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Director of Transportation Insights
Watco Companies“Pay is not the best and "bonuses" basically don't exist even though it was said to have them.”
Chewy“I think we have a great culture and would do well to pave our own way.”
Schwan's“The people I worked with and my customers were really great people and a lot of fun to work with.”
Fehr & Peers“I felt comfortable asking questions and got to work on a wide variety of projects during my internship.”
USA Jobs“Pay is not terrible but could be much better for all the work that is required”
Messer Americas“Management is not consistent & when you do a good job it’s expected not appreciated.”
Arqiva“The pay is terrible but I joined just prior to the pandemic so was was grateful for a job.”
Uber“The freedom is nice but you don't even want to know how much they take from you.”
Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a Director of Transportation
- Logistics Manager
- Logistics Analyst
- Logistics Coordinator
- Logistics Associate