Drayage Operations Specialist, Bilingual (Korean/English)

CJ Logistics America; Elwood (IL); Hybrid; USD 68,994,000 - 75,790,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Paid time off

Hybrid work eligibility

Overtime opportunities

Job summary

CJ Logistics America is seeking a bilingual Drayage Operations Specialist (Korean/English) to manage cradle-to-grave drayage shipments from our Elwood or Des Plaines offices. This hybrid role requires hands-on logistics expertise and strong communication with customers, internal fleets, and carrier partners.

You will monitor daily operations, resolve disruptions, and optimize asset utilization while ensuring SLA attainment.

Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Korean required for client communications.
• 2+ years of experience in freight brokerage, account management, or logistics operations with hands-on drayage knowledge.
• Proficiency using KakaoTalk for client communications is preferred.
• High School diploma required; Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business preferred.
• Proficiency in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and MS Office / Google Workspace; MercuryGate TMS, DAT, FourKites, or Trucker Tools a plus.
• Travel up to 20% between Des Plaines, IL, Elwood, IL, and customer sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Client Communication: serve as the primary contact for updates and inquiries using KakaoTalk and email.
• Lifecycle Management: oversee full shipment lifecycles from order creation to post-shipment follow-up.
• Fleet & Carrier Coordination: coordinate daily operations with internal CJ Fleet assets and brokered carriers.
• Disruption Resolution: address operational challenges to meet SLAs.
• Documentation & Billing: verify carrier invoices and demurrage/detention charges for accuracy.
• Data & Analytics: monitor daily drayage data and report performance metrics to leadership and clients.
• Asset Optimization: work with brokerage and transportation teams to optimize asset utilization and carrier selection.

Skills

Bilingual English/Korean

Drayage operations

Customer communication

Negotiation

Travel up to 20%

Education

High School diploma

Bachelor’s in Logistics / Supply Chain / Business

Tools

KakaoTalk

MercuryGate TMS

DAT

FourKites

Trucker Tools

MS Office / Google Workspace

Job description

Now Hiring: Drayage Operations Specialist – Bilingual (Korean/English)

Location: Elwood, IL or Des Plaines, IL (Hybrid - 4 days on-site) | Department: Brokerage

CJ Logistics Transportation is seeking a Bilingual (Korean/English) Drayage Operations Specialist to manage the complete "cradle-to-grave" lifecycle of drayage shipments. In this role, you will serve as the primary contact for customers, internal fleets, and external carrier partners. Combining hands‑on drayage expertise with bilingual fluency in English and Korean, you will deliver exceptional operational service, resolve disruptions, and foster long‑term client relationships.

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• Culture: You’ll work with a team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Impact: Every day presents new opportunities to grow, lead, and make an impact across our drayage network.
• Compensation: This is an Hourly, Non‑Exempt role. Total compensation includes competitive base pay with potential overtime opportunities based on business needs. We anticipate this role to pay an hourly rate of $24.04 to $26.45 per hour, but actual base pay will depend on the successful candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience. This role is also eligible for an quarterly performance incentive plan.
• Schedule: Work hours may vary by shift assignment and may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime to support client operations.

What You’ll Do:

• Client Communication: Serve as the primary, direct point of contact for customer updates and inquiries using platforms like KakaoTalk and email.
• Lifecycle Management: Oversee full shipment lifecycles from order creation, planning, and scheduling to tracking, delivery, and post‑shipment follow‑up.
• Fleet & Carrier Coordination: Coordinate daily shipment operations directly with internal CJ Fleet assets and brokered partner carriers.
• Disruption Resolution: Act promptly to address operational challenges, delays, container hold‑ups, or service disruptions to meet SLAs.
• Documentation & Billing: Verify carrier invoices, extra charges (demurrage/detention), and billing details for accurate processing.
• Data & Analytics: Monitor daily drayage data, analyze service exceptions, and proactively report performance metrics to leadership and clients.
• Asset Optimization: Partner with internal brokerage and transportation teams to optimize asset utilization and carrier selection.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Language Skills: Bilingual fluency in English and Korean (written and verbal) is required.
• Experience: 2+ years of experience in freight brokerage, account management, or logistics operations, with hands‑on drayage knowledge.
• Communication Tools: Professional experience using KakaoTalk for client communications is preferred.
• Education: High School diploma or equivalent required; a Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business is preferred.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Microsoft Office / Google Workspace. Experience with MercuryGate TMS, DAT, FourKites, or Trucker Tools is a plus.
• Problem Solving: Strong negotiation, problem‑solving, and conflict‑resolution abilities.
• Travel & Flexibility: Ability to travel up to 20% between Des Plaines, IL, Elwood, IL, and customer sites as needed.

What’s In It for You:

• Hybrid Flexibility: Work on‑site 4 days per week out of either our Des Plaines, IL or Elwood, IL location with hybrid eligibility.
• Career Development: Gain broad exposure across brokerage, asset fleet operations, and international customer management.
• Inclusive Work Culture: Join an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diverse skills, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Paid time off, a 401(k) match, and a competitive total rewards package.

Ready to manage end‑to‑end drayage operations for a leading global supply chain provider?

CJ Logistics About Statement:

• At CJ Logistics America, we know that we do our best work when we have an inclusive and diverse team, where we can draw on our different life experiences to help us deliver innovative solutions for our customers. We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity, equity, and an inclusive workplace. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized people tend to only when they check every box. So if you think you might be a good fit for the role, but don't necessarily meet every single requirement on the job posting, we still encourage you to apply.
• CJ Logistics delivers integrated and multimodal logistics services, connecting every corner of the world via air, sea and land. As a lead logistics partner (LLP), third‑party logistics provider (3PL) and supply chain consultant, we help customers leverage supply chain management as a competitive advantage, reducing total system costs, transforming business processes, improving service and facilitating growth and change. With a focus on social responsibility and sustainability through growth with customers and communities, we prioritize the wellbeing of the end consumer, our customers and our employees. CJ Logistics is responsible for the North America region, specializing in solutions for regulated industries such as food and beverage, consumer‑packaged goods, healthcare and medical supplies, and tire and automotive.
• CJ Logistics is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff... /etc. profession? (Note: text truncated for brevity, but the full paragraph is already included above in the job description.)
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.