Transportation & Logistics Manager

National Highway Products | Millville, NJ

National Highway Products (NHP) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of traffic safety products serving municipalities, contractors, utility companies, engineering firms, and Departments of Transportation throughout the United States. From traffic signs and guide signs to posts, barricades, cones, pavement markings, and work zone safety products, our team is committed to delivering quality products safely and on time. We are seeking a Transportation & Logistics Manager to lead our transportation operations and company drivers while overseeing all inbound and outbound freight activities. This is a leadership position that combines people management, transportation strategy, freight coordination, and continuous process improvement.

The ideal candidate is a strong leader, exceptional organizer, and problem solver who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. If you enjoy building efficient transportation systems, developing employees, negotiating with carriers, and finding smarter ways to move freight, we want to hear from you.

Position Summary

The Transportation & Logistics Manager is responsible for the overall performance of National Highway Products' transportation operations. This includes managing our company truck drivers, coordinating company fleet deliveries, overseeing inbound and outbound freight, managing carrier relationships, negotiating transportation costs, and ensuring our customers receive outstanding service. This position works closely with Sales, Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Customer Service to ensure products are delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

This position operates M-F 8AM-5PM in a mixed office/warehouse setting. The ideal candidate must be comfortable both sitting and standing for long periods of time.

Key Responsibilities

Transportation & Freight Management

• Oversee all outbound shipments utilizing:
• Company fleet
• UPS
• Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)
• Full Truckload (FTL)
• Dedicated carriers
• Expedited freight services
• Determine the most efficient and cost-effective shipping method for every order.
• Obtain freight quotes and negotiate competitive transportation rates.
• Schedule pickups and deliveries with freight carriers.
• Coordinate oversized and specialized freight shipments.
• Track shipments from pickup through delivery while proactively communicating delays.
• Manage freight claims involving damage, shortages, or carrier issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with freight carriers, brokers, and logistics providers.

Inbound Logistics

• Coordinate inbound freight from vendors utilizing UPS, LTL, FTL, and dedicated transportation.
• Schedule supplier pickups and monitor incoming shipments.
• Work closely with Purchasing to ensure materials arrive on time.
• Expedite critical inventory when production schedules require immediate replenishment.
• Improve inbound transportation efficiency while reducing freight expense.

Drop Ship Coordination

• Coordinate direct vendor-to-customer truckload shipments.
• Schedule FTL shipments directly from manufacturers to customer job sites.
• Ensure vendors, carriers, and customers remain informed throughout the transportation process.
• Resolve transportation issues quickly to minimize customer impact.

Transportation Planning & Cost Management

• Develop transportation strategies that improve delivery performance while reducing freight costs.
• Analyze transportation data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor freight spending and recommend cost-saving initiatives.
• Evaluate carrier performance based on cost, service, reliability, and on-time delivery.
• Balance customer expectations with transportation efficiency and profitability.
• Continuously improve transportation processes and workflows.

Driver & Fleet Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and manage NHP's team of company truck drivers.
• Create a positive, accountable, and safety-focused work environment.
• Schedule driver workloads and delivery assignments.
• Plan and oversee two daily company truck routes.
• Monitor driver productivity, efficiency, and on-time performance.
• Conduct regular communication with drivers regarding daily priorities and customer requirements.
• Coordinate driver schedules, PTO, and coverage.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, and training new drivers.
• Coach drivers on customer service expectations and company standards.
• Ensure compliance with DOT regulations, hours-of-service requirements, driver qualification files, and company safety policies.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance schedules and vehicle repairs to maximize fleet availability.
• Maintain fleet records including inspections, registrations, and maintenance documentation.
• Respond to transportation emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, and unexpected delivery challenges.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with:

• Sales
• Purchasing
• Production
• Warehouse
• Customer Service
• Accounting

to ensure customer orders move through production and transportation as efficiently as possible.

Qualifications

Required

• 3 years of experience in logistics, transportation, supply chain, or fleet management.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience managing UPS, LTL, FTL, and dedicated freight.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Preferred

• Manufacturing or distribution experience.
• Experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a plus).
• Knowledge of DOT regulations and transportation compliance.
• Experience managing company drivers and fleet operations.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Build efficient daily delivery schedules.
• Reduce transportation costs without sacrificing service.
• Develop strong relationships with freight carriers and suppliers.
• Lead a motivated, safety-focused driver team.
• Solve transportation challenges quickly and effectively.
• Improve delivery performance and customer satisfaction.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve transportation operations.

Why Join National Highway Products?

At National Highway Products, you'll be joining a growing company with a reputation for quality, service, and innovation. Transportation is one of the most critical functions in our business, and this role has a direct impact on our customers' success and our company's profitability. We empower our managers to make decisions, improve processes, and build great teams. If you're looking for a position where your leadership and ideas will make a real difference, we'd love to meet you.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation and holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Professional growth and advancement opportunities
• Stable, growing company with an outstanding reputation
• Collaborative and team-oriented work environment

Join Our Team

If you're a driven transportation professional who enjoys leading people, solving complex logistics challenges, and delivering exceptional customer service, we encourage you to apply. Become part of a company that helps keep America's roads, highways, and communities safe, one delivery at a time.

Optional Equal Opportunity Survey

NHP, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equal employment opportunity and compliance with government contracts, National Highway Products, Inc. invites all applicants to complete a short, voluntary survey.

Your response is confidential, not shared with hiring managers, and will not affect your application.

Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/QnGWDNZYX3cXJfhU7

Pay: $50,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $80,000