Transportation Representative

Cornerstone Systems is seeking a Transportation Representative for our office located in Alpharetta, GA. The Transportation Representative, reporting to the Branch Manager, will play a key role in supporting operational functions, driving sales initiatives, and handling accounting tasks within our Alpharetta, GA branch. This individual will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with both carriers and customers while ensuring smooth day-to-day operational execution. The position requires a versatile professional with a deep understanding of transportation services and truck brokerage operations. This role is crucial in ensuring compliance with company SOPs, maintaining service excellence, and contributing to the growth of our customer and carrier network. While the following outlines the general responsibilities and requirements, it is not exhaustive, as flexibility and initiative are highly valued in this dynamic role.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Follow up on load statuses and ensure deliveries are made.
• Ensure compliance with all SOPs and daily adherence to requirements.
• Comfortable being on the phone consistently throughout each day
• Ability to quickly bounce back from unfavorable situations
• Thrive in high pressure environments
• Understand all aspects of over-the-road trucking services, including, but not limited to: truckload, flatbed, LTL, expedited, over-dimensional shipments, white glove, drayage and more.
• Understand all equipment types necessary to match customers’ orders properly.
• Ability to quote customers shipments with accuracy
• Input shipment data in TMS and manage shipment from pickup to delivery, when needed.
• Evaluate and provide shipping instructions to the service provider.
• Review documents submitted by carriers to assure accuracy, detail, and completeness.
• Release load for billing when the load has been delivered and all information is accurate.
• Manage, service, and grow current customer/carrier relationships; Convert new carrier relationships into repeat business.
• Execute negotiations with customers and carriers through prospecting, cold calling, qualifying and closing business.
• Source carrier capacity as needed to cover customer freight.
• Develop carrier relationships and contacts at multiple levels (dispatch, sales, and owner).
• Understand the customer’s shipping needs; identify service and/or cost improvement opportunities and execute their highest priority initiatives.
• Prospect new sales opportunities, establish customer and carrier relationships, negotiate rates, problem solve, and close loads to build personal book of business.
• Create new solutions to existing partnerships by further developing customer and carrier relationships; always ask questions, listen, never be satisfied and be highly coachable
• Document and manage problematic events and issues during the life of a load. Escalate issues to the proper people at the right time. Seek input to determine best course of action and implement solutions.
• Negotiate rates, find pain points and provide solutions to help the customer benefit from their supply chain.
• Understand market trends and seasonality of capacity.
• Promote and display Cornerstones Core Values: Integrity, Honesty, Respect, Loyalty, Never Satisfied
• Regular and reliable attendance expected
• Other work-related duties as assigned by supervisor/manager

Minimum Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills Required

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Transportation, Logistics or related field preferred.
• Minimum 2-3 year(s) of related work experience.
• Driven, enthusiastic, possess a strong sense of urgency, and highly motivated.
• Intelligent, sharp mind.
• Problem solver; critical thinker.
• High energy.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills; can see big picture while managing tiny details, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and problem solving skills.
• Strong negotiating skills; able to persuade, motivate and influence others in an ethical manner.
• Able to work in a team environment, while also delivering independent results.
• Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously; prioritize, multi-task and manage time wisely.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Transportation or logistics industry experience strongly preferred, but not required