Transportation Manager

City
Chicago
State
Illinois
Description

The Transportation Manager is a mission-critical operations leader responsible for directing all transportation, fleet, inbound scheduling, and receiving functions. This role leads CDL drivers, and receiving personnel to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and service-driven operations. This leader will build and sustain a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement. We are seeking a strong people leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-volume logistics environments and who understands that operational excellence starts with team development and disciplined execution.

Opportunity type
Job
Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Leadership & Culture

Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors, drivers, and receiving staff.
Build a culture centered on safety, professionalism, and service.
Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance management, and workforce planning.
Establish clear expectations, KPIs, and accountability systems.
Build leadership bench strength and promote team skillset development.

Transportation Operations

Oversee daily routing, pickup scheduling, and delivery execution.
Ensure all deliveries and pick-ups meet established service commitments.
Resolve service escalations with professionalism and urgency.
Collaboration across departments to support evolving community needs.
Manage receiving team workflow to align dock capacity with warehouse throughput.
Ensure compliance with all safety, documentation and food safety standards.

Fleet & Asset Management

Oversee preventative maintenance and repair programs for tractors, trailers, reefers, and fleet vehicles.
Track equipment uptime, out-of-service reporting, and repair timelines.
Maintain clear truck lanes, organized yard space, and safe trailer staging areas.
Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining safety and service standards.

DOT Compliance & Safety

Maintain and monitor compliance with DOT regulations and implement corrective action plans as needed.
Maintain driver qualification documentation in partnership with HR.
Lead safety training initiatives and reinforce a safety-first culture.

Application qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

4+ years of progressive leadership experience in transportation, logistics, fleet, or warehouse operations.
Proven experience leading frontline teams in high-volume environments.
Strong knowledge of routing systems (Roadnet or similar) and telematics platforms (Samsara or similar).
Experience managing fleet maintenance programs and DOT compliance.
Working knowledge of warehouse, shipping, and receiving operations.
Strong financial acumen and budget management experience.
Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require.
Bachelor’s degree preferred; CDL preferred but not required

EXPOSURE:

Normal warehouse environment; including work in freezer/refrigerator environments.
Some outdoor exposure including worksite inspection, trailer inspection, and road tests.
Interacts with GCFD staff, donors, vendors, transportation carriers, volunteers, member agencies.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
Employer-paid life and disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
Generous paid time off
Parental leave
On-site gym
$3,000 annual employer-paid Thrive-Pass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
$250 employee referral bonus

Additional information

Salary Range $80,000 - $85,000