Transportation Manager of Live Operations

About the Role

Lead a high-performing transportation operation that plays a critical role in supporting Perdue’s Live Operations network. As Fleet Transportation Manager, you will oversee a team of approximately 100 CDL Class A drivers while driving safe, efficient, and on-time delivery of live haul, feed, chick, and egg operations. You will lead transportation supervisors and dispatch teams, champion a culture of safety and continuous improvement, and build strong relationships across internal and external partners to achieve operational excellence. This role is ideal for a results-driven leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at developing teams, managing complex operations, and delivering exceptional service while driving business performance.

Location Flexibility: This position may be filled by candidates residing near Candor, NC; Lewiston, NC; Nashville, NC; Norlina, NC; Rockingham, NC; Dillon, SC; Forsyth, GA; or Perry, GA. Regular travel throughout the assigned transportation network is required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily transportation operations for the area.
• Provide leadership to supervisors, ensuring they have the tools and skills to lead drivers successfully.
• Interview, hire, train, develop, and evaluate Associates, including drivers.
• Promote and evaluate Associate growth and development.
• Ensure Associates meet performance expectations and coach and educate Associates as needed.
• Ensure adequate staffing to meet business needs, including schedules (tours), attendance, paid time off, holidays, and weekend coverage.
• Ensure retention numbers are met for the assigned area of business.
• Exceed daily on-time delivery requirements and internal and external customer expectations.
• Establish goals and projects to reduce delivery expenses, increase utilization, and drive continuous operational improvement.
• Manage, approve, and audit driver and Associate payroll, schedules, and time off to meet operational needs, including weekend and holiday coverage.
• Conduct safety audits on company, customer, and vendor facilities and report findings, potential improvements, and follow up on improvements.
• Conduct and lead driver quarterly meeting schedules.
• Establish, report, and promote continuous improvement on weekly KPIs.
• Develop and implement initiatives for improvement.
• Establish and foster Associate, internal, and external relationships.
• Provide support for special events as needed.
• Support the strategic direction of the department and company.
• Establish a safety culture where Associates put safety first to prevent injuries and accidents.
• Establish safety goals and implement improvement plans.
• Manage and exceed safety KPIs.
• Conduct monthly safety roundtables and/or meetings with drivers and Associates.
• Manage accidents and injuries, including investigation and reporting.
• Oversee DOT compliance, including reviewing hours of service and daily equipment inspections.
• Review and administer driver safety violations.
• Conduct weekly asset and facility safety inspections.
• Manage daily tractor and trailer pools for each location, with a priority on improving driver-to-truck and truck-to-trailer ratios to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage with outside vendors.
• Manage rental equipment, including tractors and trailers, according to company requirements.
• Audit and inspect equipment weekly for damage and utilization.
• Audit and track company equipment, including EZPass and ELD tablets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Prior senior leadership/management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5-10 years of transportation, distribution, or logistics leadership experience.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to utilize technology.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Maintain flexible work schedules, including days and hours, to handle weather, holidays, or other service disruptions.
• Remain on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for matters involving customer service or driver safety.
• Travel frequently to and from facility locations.
• Perform work that is mostly sedentary but may require occasional movement to other offices, buildings, and truck yards.
• Work around office equipment and inside and outside weather conditions, dust, and animal materials.
• Exercise decision-making authority for all aspects of day-to-day operations, including resolving customer inquiries, team performance evaluations, dispatch issues, and service resolutions.
• Involve higher approval on matters of budgeting, capital expenditure requests, and decisions requiring suspensions or terminations.