Customer Relations Specialist-logistics

Forward Air Corporation; Union City (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Air Corporation in Union City, CA is seeking a Customer Relations Specialist / Operations Agent to provide advanced customer service, coordinate shipments, and supervise administrative tasks in a 100% on-site setting.

The role involves handling escalated inquiries, end-to-end shipment tracking, documentation review, and supporting billing and AP/AR processes while collaborating with carriers, drivers, and internal teams to boost reliability and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Education level required: high school diploma or GED.
• Progressive experience in customer relations or logistics roles.
• Ability to handle escalated customer and operational issues.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior point of contact for customers, carriers, drivers, and internal teams, managing complex or escalated service inquiries.
• Oversee and coordinate shipment activity from order entry through delivery, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures.
• Exercise independent judgment to resolve shipment exceptions, service delays, and documentation issues; determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Lead advanced tracking and tracing activities, proactively identifying potential disruptions and communicating mitigation plans to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and optimize scheduling for pickups, deliveries, appointments, and operational workflows across multiple parties.
• Review, validate, and approve shipping documentation, labels, and proof of delivery (POD).
• Provide guidance and informal mentorship to Customer Relations Coordinators and support staff on procedures, systems, and customer interactions.
• Oversee billing accuracy and financial documentation; analyze discrepancies and work cross‑functionally to resolve AR/AP issues.
• Maintain oversight of organized, compliant electronic and physical files for shipment, financial, and administrative records.
• Collaborate with operations, dispatch, and leadership teams to improve communication, service reliability, and process efficiency.
• Identify recurring service issues or process gaps and recommend improvements aligned with operational goals.
• Support terminal or site activities as needed, including freight acceptance and coordination of specialized shipment requirements.
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings, training initiatives, and operational improvement projects.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Skills

Customer relations

Logistics

Operations coordination

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Windows

Microsoft 365

Outlook

Excel

Teams/Zoom/Webex

Job description

Job Description

The Customer Relations Specialist / Operations Agent provides advanced customer service, operational coordination, and administrative oversight to support complex shipment activity within a domestic freight forwarding / transportation terminal. Serving as a senior point of contact, they manage escalated customer needs, oversee end‑to‑end shipment coordination, and resolve service issues and improve operational outcomes. They are responsible for overseeing scheduling, shipment tracking and tracing, documentation accuracy, and core financial processes including billing, accounts receivable, and accounts payable support. Working closely with customers, carriers, drivers, and internal operations teams, they proactively identify risks, recommend solutions, and ensure service commitments are met.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior point of contact for customers, carriers, drivers, and internal teams, managing complex or escalated service inquiries.
• Oversee and coordinate shipment activity from order entry through delivery, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established procedures.
• Exercise independent judgment to resolve shipment exceptions, service delays, and documentation issues; determine appropriate corrective actions.
• Lead advanced tracking and tracing activities, proactively identifying potential disruptions and communicating mitigation plans to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and optimize scheduling for pickups, deliveries, appointments, and operational workflows across multiple parties.
• Review, validate, and approve shipping documentation, labels, and proof of delivery (POD).
• Provide guidance and informal mentorship to Customer Relations Coordinators and support staff on procedures, systems, and customer interactions.
• Oversee billing accuracy and financial documentation; analyze discrepancies and work cross‑functionally to resolve AR/AP issues.
• Maintain oversight of organized, compliant electronic and physical files for shipment, financial, and administrative records.
• Collaborate with operations, dispatch, and leadership teams to improve communication, service reliability, and process efficiency.
• Identify recurring service issues or process gaps and recommend improvements aligned with operational goals.
• Support terminal or site activities as needed, including freight acceptance and coordination of specialized shipment requirements.
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings, training initiatives, and operational improvement projects.
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Progressive experience in customer relations, logistics, transportation, or operational support roles with increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in resolving complex customer and operational issues.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities independently.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented, on‑site environment with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on‑site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.