Transportation Manager

Job Title: Transportation Manager

Department: Beef Supply Chain
Reports To: Supply Chain Manager
Location: Sustainable Beef

Job Summary

The Transportation Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all transportation activities for a beef processing facility. This role ensures the safe, efficient, and compliant movement of livestock into the plant and finished beef products to customers, while maintaining cold-chain integrity, animal welfare standards, and regulatory compliance. The Transportation Manager leads transportation staff, manages carrier relationships, controls freight costs, and supports plant production schedules.

Key Responsibilities

Transportation & Logistics Operations

• Plan and manage inbound and outbound transportation for livestock, boxed beef, by-products, and supplies.
• Coordinate daily shipping schedules to support plant production, harvest, fabrication, and customer delivery requirements.
• Ensure cold-chain compliance for refrigerated and frozen product shipments.
• Optimize routing, load planning, and delivery schedules to improve efficiency and reduce transportation costs.

Livestock Transportation Oversight

• Coordinate inbound livestock deliveries in compliance with animal welfare, biosecurity, and USDA guidelines.
• Work closely with procurement, yard, and harvest teams to support animal flow and minimize stress and delays.
• Ensure livestock carriers meet company standards for welfare, cleanliness, and documentation.

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, USDA/FSIS, OSHA, and company food safety programs.
• Maintain accurate transportation records, driver logs, bills of lading, and temperature documentation.
• Support HACCP, food defense, and traceability requirements related to transportation.
• Enforce safety policies for drivers and yard personnel.

Fleet & Carrier Management

• Manage third-party carriers and all broker relationships.
• Negotiate contracts and rates with carriers and logistics providers.
• Monitor carrier performance including on-time delivery, claims, and service quality.
• Oversee equipment availability, maintenance coordination, and trailer sanitation.

Leadership & Communication

• Supervise, train, and develop transportation coordinators, dispatchers, and yard drivers as applicable.
• Communicate effectively with production, warehousing, sales, quality assurance, and live operations teams.
• Address transportation disruptions and resolve service issues quickly.

Cost Control & Continuous Improvement

• Develop transportation budgets and monitor freight spend.
• Analyze transportation KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, reduce costs, and enhance supplier and customer satisfaction.
• Other duties as assigned by Senior Supply Chain Manager.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field or equivalent industry experience.
• 3–5 years of transportation or logistics management experience, preferably in food manufacturing, meat processing, or cold-chain environments.
• Strong knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and refrigerated transportation.
• Experience managing carriers, drivers, or logistics teams.
• Proficient in transportation management systems (TMS), ERP systems, and Microsoft Office.

Preferred

Experience in beef protein processing environments.

• Knowledge of animal welfare transportation standards.
• Experience with USDA/FSIS-regulated facilities.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities
• Data-driven decision-making and cost management skills
• Commitment to safety, food safety, and animal welfare

Working Conditions

• Combination of office and production/yard environment
• May require early mornings, evenings, weekends, or holidays depending on production schedules
• Exposure to cold temperatures, livestock areas, and industrial equipment

  Benefits:

  • Competitive Wage
  • Health Insurance
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • 401K with matching
  • Opportunities for advancement within the company

  Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.