Distribution Safety Lead – Driver Fleet (Travel)

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.; Lancaster (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is seeking a Distribution Safety Manager to lead safety programs for a large distribution network. You will monitor driver safety, coach frontline teams, and ensure regulatory compliance while traveling to operational sites.

The role focuses on reducing injuries, data-driven risk management, and implementing preventive safety initiatives across facilities and transportation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in safety-related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of safety management in transportation, logistics, or distribution.
• Strong knowledge of DOT, OSHA, FMCSA regulations.
• Experience managing large-scale driver safety programs with camera tech.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or equivalent preferred.
• Proven ability to lead safety-first culture with frontline teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% to operational sites.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee safety performance and compliance for ~250 drivers using data-driven insights.
• Develop and execute risk and injury reduction strategies across distribution and fleet.
• Analyze inward-facing camera data to detect unsafe driving and coach behavior.
• Conduct risk assessments and safety audits across facilities and transportation.
• Partner with Ops to design preventive safety programs, scorecards, incentives.
• Travel to distribution centers and field sites to observe operations and ensure standards.
• Lead root-cause investigations for accidents and near-misses with corrective actions.
• Develop targeted safety training on high-risk activities and defensive driving.
• Monitor KPIs (OIR, DART, Samsara scores) and refine strategies.
• Ensure compliance with DOT, OSHA, FMCSA and state regs; drive beyond compliance.
• Collaborate with HR, Operations, Maintenance for injury trends and return-to-work.
• Develop and enforce safety protocols for distribution operations.
• Oversee Tire Blitz, Garage Audits, Toolbox Talks, and related initiatives.
• Evaluate safety technologies, PPE and best practices to improve performance.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Transportation, Logistics, or related field

Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or similar certification

Tools

Inward-facing camera systems

Samsara safety scores

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams)

Job description

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is seeking a Distribution Safety Manager to lead safety programs for a large distribution network. You will monitor driver safety, coach frontline teams, and ensure regulatory compliance while traveling to operational sites.

The role focuses on reducing injuries, data-driven risk management, and implementing preventive safety initiatives across facilities and transportation.