Job Summary: The Transportation Manager is responsible for leading all transportation operations for a 3PL company specializing in fresh produce logistics. This role ensures the safe, timely, and compliant delivery of perishable goods while maintaining strict cold chain integrity from farm to customer. The Transportation Manager plays a critical role in achieving customer on-time arrivals, managing time-sensitive shipments, and meeting customer requirements in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Supervise, train, and support drivers, emphasizing produce handling best practices and customer driver performance requirements
- Plan, direct, and coordinate daily transportation operations for fresh produce, including dispatching, routing, and load optimization
- Ensure strict temperature control and cold chain integrity for all shipments (pre-cooling, reefer setpoints, continuous monitoring
- Coordinate with 3PL customers in ensuring high customer service performance by drivers
- Coordinate closely with growers, shippers, and cold storage facilities to ensure proper handling and loading of produce
- Manage time-sensitive shipments with a focus on minimizing transit times and preventing spoilage or quality degradation
- Ensure compliance with DOT, FDA (FSMA), and food safety standards, including proper documentation and sanitation requirements
- Monitor KPIs such as on-time delivery, % truck full, claims, dwell time, and cost per mile
- Review Samsara dashboard daily and perform disciplinary writeups on drivers for speeding, distracted driving, failure to follow route, and other infractions
- Oversee refrigerated fleet performance, including reefer unit operation, maintenance, and fuel management
- Identify continuous improvement opportunities
- Maintain accurate records for audits, including temperature logs, bills of lading, and inspection reports
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field (preferred)
- 3–5+ years of experience in refrigerated transportation or logistics
- Familiarity with cold chain logistics, reefer operations, and temperature-sensitive freight
- Strong understanding of DOT regulations, Hours of Service (HOS), and FSMA requirements
- Experience with Samsara dashboards preferred
- Proven leadership and team management experience
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make quick decisions in time-critical situations
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Bilingual Spanish
- Knowledge of produce shipping regions and seasonal freight patterns
Work Environment:
- Fast-paced logistics environment with a mix of office and operational oversight
- Frequent coordination with packing houses, warehouses, and distribution centers
- Requires flexibility, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and peak season demands
- On-call availability to address urgent shipment or quality issues
Salary Range:
- Competitive and based on experience, typically ranging from $85,000 to $100,000 annually
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and holidays
- 401K plan
- Performance-based quarterly bonus eligibility based on KPI performance
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
