Transportation Manager

Job Summary

The Transportation Manager is responsible for overseeing all transportation operations at a NAPA Distribution Center. This role ensures timely, cost-effective, and compliant movement of products to customers and company locations while maintaining high standards of safety, service, and operational efficiency.

Under the direction of Distribution leadership, this position leads transportation planning, carrier management, route optimization, dock operations coordination, and team development to support service excellence and on-time performance. The Transportation Manager collaborates cross-functionally with warehouse operations, inventory, customer service, safety, private fleet, and third-party carriers to ensure seamless execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead all outbound transportation activities for the Indianapolis Distribution Center, ensuring on-time and accurate deliveries.
• Manage daily dispatch operations, routing, scheduling, and load planning to maximize efficiency and service levels.
• Oversee carrier relationships (private fleet and third-party providers), including performance management, service metrics, and cost control.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as routing guide compliance, on-time delivery, cost per mile, cube utilization, and route efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, and company safety policies and procedures.
• Coordinate closely with warehouse leadership to align dock schedules, labor planning, and shipment prioritization.
• Analyze transportation data to identify trends, reduce costs, and improve service reliability.
• Manage transportation budgets, including freight expense tracking and variance reporting.
• Lead root cause analysis for service failures, claims, or delivery issues and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure proper documentation, recordkeeping, and system accuracy within transportation management systems (TMS) and related platforms.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop contingency plans to address weather events, capacity shortages, and operational disruptions.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop transportation support staff as applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Logistics, Business, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of progressive transportation or logistics management experience, preferably within a distribution center environment.
• Strong knowledge of transportation operations, routing, freight optimization, and cost management.
• Working knowledge of DOT regulations and transportation safety requirements.
• Experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Proven ability to analyze data and drive operational improvements.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced distribution environment.

Leadership

• Embodies the following values: serve, perform, influence, respect, innovate, team.
• Effectively communicates by motivating and inspiring others through clear and proactive communication.
• Delivers results and drives customer success by committing and focusing on outcomes to deliver results and making the customer the center of decisions.
• Makes balanced decisions and thinks strategically by being a forward thinker.
• Develops high-performing teams by providing inclusive leadership, attracting and developing world-class talent, providing ongoing feedback, and building trust across the organization.

Physical Demands / Working Environment

• Lifting and Carrying: Ability to lift and carry objects of varying weights, 60 lbs. pounds or more, depending on job duties 
• Pushing and Pulling: Capability to push and pull carts, pallet jacks, or other equipment loaded with materials throughout the warehouse. This may involve pushing or pulling heavy loads over extended distances or up ramps.
• Standing and Walking: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, often for the duration of a shift. Warehouse employees need to be able to move around the warehouse facility to pick orders, stock shelves, or perform other tasks.
• Bending and Stooping: Capacity to bend, stoop, squat, and reach to retrieve items from shelves, bins, or storage racks. Employees need the ability to access items throughout the warehouse at various heights and angles.
• Climbing: Can climb ladders or stairs to access elevated storage areas or perform maintenance tasks