Director of Transportation

Perdue Chicken; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 146,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Disability protection

Paid time off

Job summary

Perdue Transportation Incorporated, based in the United States, seeks a Director of Transportation to lead enterprise-wide fleet operations, private fleets, and inbound/outbound logistics for finished goods, agricultural products, and the Farms division.

You will craft long-term transportation strategy, enhance safety, ensure regulatory compliance, and optimize multi-million-dollar budgets and asset utilization across regional terminals and plant networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or supply chain with 8–12 years of fleet/transport experience.
• 8–12 years in fleet operations or transportation management at scale.
• Industry background in agriculture/food/beverage distribution and biosecurity.
• Deep knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and Hours of Service.
• Proven P&L and multi-million budget management.
• Experience with enterprise TMS, telematics, and fleet/tracking ecosystems.
• Strong executive leadership with strategic thinking and communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for enterprise fleet operations and logistics.
• Oversee regulatory compliance and safety programs across terminals and fleets.
• Direct risk management, investigations, and corrective action plans.
• Lead talent architecture, succession planning, and driver retention strategies.
• Drive asset optimization, budget management, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Engage with executive stakeholders to align strategy and execution.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Safety leadership

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

P&L management

Executive presence

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Supply Chain

Tools

TMS

Telematics

Fleet tracking software

Job description

Perdue Transportation Incorporated (PTI) is the transportation service and logistics provider for Perdue Foods. PTI’s team is comprised of support staff and private fleet drivers. All drivers and team members are safety-minded and deliver on our promise for customer service and reliability each day. Perdue Transportation Inc. is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Shape the future of transportation and logistics at enterprise scale. As the Director of Transportation, you will provide strategic leadership for enterprise-wide commercial fleet operations, private fleets, and inbound and outbound logistics supporting finished packaged goods, agricultural products, and the Farms division. In this highly visible leadership role, you will develop long-term transportation strategy, strengthen safety and regulatory compliance, optimize multi-million-dollar budgets and capital investments, and maximize asset utilization across regional terminals and plant networks. You’ll lead transformational initiatives that advance operational excellence and sustainability while partnering with senior leaders across the organization to balance customer service, financial performance, risk, and operational priorities. This role is ideal for a visionary, strategic leader who thrives in complex environments, excels at driving change across a large organization, and is passionate about building scalable transportation solutions that deliver lasting value and business growth.

The salary range for this position is $146,000 - $220,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

This individual can be based in one of the following locations: Salisbury, MD (Corporate HQ), Dillon, SC, Perry, GA, Prince George, VA, Rockingham, NC or in surroundings areas. Must be able to travel up to 40% if needed.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic Safety Leadership: Champion the enterprise-wide safety vision, fostering a proactive safety culture across all regional terminals, vendor networks, and plant facilities.
• Regulatory & Policy Oversight: Ensure comprehensive, enterprise-level compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), OSHA, and state-specific regulatory mandates.
• Risk & Crisis Management: Direct high-level accident, injury, and liability investigations, overseeing corporate risk mitigation strategies and directing systemic corrective action plans.
• Biosecurity & Animal Welfare Governance: Set overarching corporate policies and specialized training standards regarding animal welfare, humane handling, and biosecurity protocols for live-haul, feed, and chick deliveries across all operating divisions.
• Multi-Division Network Oversight: Direct comprehensive, multi-site fleet operations spanning finished packaged goods, agricultural products, and complex live-haul Farms divisions.
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Architecture: Lead a multi-tiered leadership team, including Senior Managers and supervisors. Design and oversee enterprise talent acquisition, executive development, driver retention strategies, and succession planning.
• Fleet Optimization & Asset Strategy: Oversee corporate tractor, trailer, and specialized equipment portfolios, establishing high-level asset allocation, standardization, and optimal driver-to-truck and truck-to-trailer ratios.
• Executive Site Governance: Conduct strategic visits to key regional terminals, distribution centers, and plant locations to evaluate leadership performance, audit safety culture, and collaborate with executive stakeholders.
• P&L Ownership & Cost Optimization: Manage the departmental P&L, continuously evaluating enterprise network efficiencies, route optimization architectures, and fuel management strategies to drive large-scale cost reduction.
• Enterprise Budgeting & Financial Forecasting: Own the annual operating budget, monthly financial scorecards, and enterprise key performance indicators (KPIs). Partner with finance executives to analyze variances, manage P&L performance, and drive long-term financial modeling.
• Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Governance: Formulate, justify, and execute multi-million-dollar capital expenditure requests for fleet upgrades, facility enhancements, and technology investments.
• Network Transformation: Spearhead the implementation of industry best practices, advanced standard operating procedures (SOPs), automation, and continuous improvement frameworks across the network.
• Executive Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain high-level partnerships with executive leadership, internal business units, external key customers, and major industry vendors.
• Strategic Alignment: Drive long-term departmental and corporate strategic planning through advanced data analytics, predictive modeling, and executive-level cross-functional project execution.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain or similar, and a minimum of 8-12 years of progressive experience in fleet operations, transportation management, or supply chain logistics, with a proven track record of scaling operations.
• 6-8 years in executive, senior management, or director-level roles overseeing large-scale private fleets, multi-site distribution networks, or nationwide logistics.
• Industry-Specific Background: Deep domain expertise within agriculture, food/beverage distribution, livestock/live-haul, or heavy manufacturing is critical, given the complex compliance, temperature-controlled, and biosecurity constraints of the business.
• DOT/FMCSA & Regulatory Mastery: Comprehensive command of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, Hours of Service, Electronic Logging Devices (Samsara), Driver Qualifications, and the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse at an enterprise governance level.
• Financial & P&L Acumen: Demonstrated mastery of corporate finance, managing multi-million-dollar operating budgets, capital planning, and optimizing cost-per-mile/case metrics on a macro scale.
• Advanced Systems Proficiency: Expert-level familiarity with enterprise-grade Transportation Management Systems (TMS), telematics, warehouse management integration, and fleet tracking ecosystems.
• Executive Leadership & Strategic Thinking: Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to diagnose systemic challenges and craft strategic, long-range solutions at the enterprise level.
• Communication & Executive Presence: Outstanding cross-functional leadership capabilities to bridge communication between executive leadership, plant directors, union/driver teams, and external commercial partners.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.
• When in a plant environment:
• Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• May handle products from 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db. to 110 db.
• May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, and processing facility.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.
• May need to climb ladders.

#LI-KC1

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.