Senior Transportation Manager

Gunderson's Companies, Inc.; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gunderson Inc in Appleton, WI is seeking a Senior Transportation Manager to build and lead a hands-on routing team, drive safe, reliable, on-time service, and translate strategic priorities into daily staffing and fleet decisions.

You will stay visible in the field, coach Route Managers, use performance data to improve results, and ensure compliance with FMCSA/DOT requirements. This is a leadership-focused role requiring strong communication and talent development across multiple locations.

Qualifications

• Ownership, follow-through, and the initiative to address issues early.
• Sound judgment and confidence making timely decisions in a fast-moving operation.
• A proven ability to build trust, develop talent, and manage performance fairly.
• Clear, adaptable communication and a collaborative approach to solving problems.
• A steady, hands-on leadership style and flexibility to travel and work alongside the team.

Responsibilities

• Build a safety-first culture and ensure hazards, incidents, and near misses lead to effective corrective action.
• Lead the Route Managers and strengthen safe, reliable, on-time service across locations.
• Translate distribution priorities into clear daily expectations for staffing, schedules, fleet, equipment, and capacity.
• Stay visible in the field, using route rides and firsthand feedback to reinforce standards and address emerging needs.
• Develop strong managers and teams through coaching, recognition, clear expectations, and accountability.
• Use performance data and sound judgment to resolve issues, standardize practices, and recommend improvements.

Skills

Ownership

Decisive decision-making

Leadership

Communication

Travel flexibility

Job description

Senior Transportation Manager

Gunderson Inc Appleton, Wisconsin, United States

About this position

Description:

Build the team. Drive performance. Move route service forward.

Lead the team. Strengthen execution. Make an impact from day one. Gunderson Uniform & Linen is a family-owned Wisconsin company serving customers since 1952. We are looking for a hands-on route service leader to guide our Route Managers, strengthen execution across locations, and turn distribution priorities into safe, consistent, and dependable customer service.

What You’ll Lead

• Build a safety-first culture and ensure hazards, incidents, and near misses lead to effective corrective action.


• Lead the Route Managers and strengthen safe, reliable, on-time service across locations.


• Translate distribution priorities into clear daily expectations for staffing, schedules, fleet, equipment, and capacity.


• Stay visible in the field, using route rides and firsthand feedback to reinforce standards and address emerging needs.


• Develop strong managers and teams through coaching, recognition, clear expectations, and accountability.


• Use performance data and sound judgment to resolve issues, standardize practices, and recommend improvements.

Requirements:

What You Bring

• Ownership, follow-through, and the initiative to address issues early.


• Sound judgment and confidence making timely decisions in a fast-moving operation.


• A proven ability to build trust, develop talent, and manage performance fairly.


• Clear, adaptable communication and a collaborative approach to solving problems.


• A steady, hands-on leadership style and flexibility to travel and work alongside the team.

What We’d Like to See

These qualifications describe our ideal candidate, but they are not a checklist. If you bring relevant experience, strong leadership potential, and a proven record of results, we encourage you to apply—even if your background does not match every item.

• Relevant experience in transportation, distribution, or a related industry; five or more years is preferred.


• Progressive leadership experience, ideally including responsibility for managers.


• Working knowledge of FMCSA/DOT requirements and transportation safety.


• A track record of building strong teams and delivering results, preferably across multiple locations.


• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and technology skills.

Ready to lead what’s next? Bring your leadership and ideas to strengthen route service and help our teams succeed.

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