Sr. Manager, Transportation

US Foods; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employee benefits program

Job summary

US Foods is hiring a Sr. Manager, Transportation to lead a safety- and service-focused department, driving on-time shipments and cost efficiency across our Aurora and Plainfield operations. You will coach supervisors, manage drivers, and ensure DOT compliance while upholding US Foods values.

Based in our IL distribution centers, this role emphasizes people development, cross-functional collaboration and strategic optimization of delivery processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in transportation/delivery supervision required.
• Strong leadership, communication and people development skills.
• Ability to openly and effectively communicate with all associates/departments within the company.
• Strong understanding of DOT, inventory control, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret financial and operational data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Achieve safety, service, and cost targets in Transportation; foster a safety-first culture.
• Oversee and develop Transportation Managers through coaching and policy training.
• Develop drivers and Transportation personnel; drive engagement and retention.
• Build high-performing teams; manage staffing, performance and disciplinary actions.
• Ensure on-time, accurate deliveries; troubleshoot issues and enforce DOT rules.
• Improve delivery reliability and cost-efficiency aligned with business goals.
• Identify waste and streamline processes for safety and efficiency.
• Analyze daily performance and report to VP Operations with recommendations.
• Interpret collective bargaining provisions in union facilities when applicable.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People development

DOT regulations

OSHA

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or GED

College degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Join Our Community of Food People!

The Sr. Manager, Transportation will ensure a Transportation department culture focused on people, safety, service, and cost through meaningful engagements with Transportation leaders and associates, best in-class service to customers, and safe and profitable operations. They will use their expertise in transportation operations to ensure safe, accurate and timely daily outbound shipments to customers and other distribution centers within the organization, and to ensure a secure working environment for all team members.

The initial onboarding and training will be in our Aurora IL DC

This position will be based in our Plainfield IL DC

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Achieve all safety, service, and cost targets in the Transportation department. Lead with a safety mindset that ensures that every US Foods associate, our customers, and the general public with whom our drivers interact remain injury free, always. Champion safety procedures, processes and training to create and maintain a safety-first culture in the Transportation department.
• Oversee and develop Transportation Managers through one-on-one coaching, training on policy and procedures, assisting in problem resolution when required, and leading by example.
• Oversee and develop drivers and Transportation personnel by discussing performance with Transportation Managers and creating plans to address gaps. Drive associate engagement and retention, and create a culture that embodies US Foods values.
• Build high-performing teams by reviewing staffing requirements and monitoring interviewing and hiring of Transportation personnel. Review performance, coach to achieve service and safety targets, and deliver disciplinary action.
• Monitor production goals and maintain a zero-error attitude to ensure accuracy and customer satisfaction. Anticipate, analyze and troubleshoot problems with deliveries and devise cost-effective and legal solutions; direct managers on implementation. Interpret and ensure compliance with company, state, and federal DOT regulations.
• Ensure optimum delivery reliability to the customer by developing efficient and effective production flow processes and identifying process improvement and cost reduction strategies that are in line with business objectives.
• Identify and stop waste, and improve processes to complete work more safely and efficiently.
• Analyze daily performance measures; identify any weaknesses; and recommend changes to the VP Operations to ensure that productivity objectives are achieved.
• In union facilities, assist HR and the VP Operations in interpreting the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement, administering appropriate discipline, settling routine grievances and participating in arbitrations as required.
• Other duties assigned by manager.

SUPERVISION

• Direct: Transportation Managers, union and/or non-union transportation associates (Dispatchers, Transportation Clerks, etc.), Routers (location-dependent)
• Indirect: Union and/or non-union drivers

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Transportation leaders and coworkers; VP Operations; Drivers; Routers; Warehouse leaders; Internal customers across departments (e.g., Sales)
• External: Customers

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Will spend time in an office working on a computer. Must spend portion of working time in a truck with drivers, exposed to noise and vibration levels which may be higher than those typically experienced in passenger cars.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Related Experience/Requirements:

• Minimum of five years of experience in transportation/delivery supervision required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Broad knowledge of transportation/delivery operations, methods and procedures.
• Strong leadership, communication and people development skills.
• Ability to openly and effectively communicate with all associates/departments within the company.
• Strong understanding of DOT, inventory control, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Ability to interpret financial and operational data.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.).

Travel

• 10% travel required, typically for mandatory meetings and/or training.

Education/Training

• High school diploma or GED required; college degree preferred.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

Must be able to perform the following physical activities for described length of time:

OCCASIONALLY: 1% - 33 / FREQUENTLY: 34% - 66% / CONTINUOUSLY: 67% - 100% or NEVER

STAND: OCCASIONALLY

WALK: OCCASIONALLY

DRIVE VEHICLE 1: OCCASIONALLY

SIT: OCCASIONALLY

LIFT 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY

11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY

21-50 lbs (Medium): OCCASIONALLY

51-100 lbs (Heavy): OCCASIONALLY

Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER

CARRY 1-10 lbs (Sedentary): OCCASIONALLY

11-20 lbs (Light): OCCASIONALLY

21-50 lbs (Medium): OCCASIONALLY

51-100 lbs (Heavy): OCCASIONALLY

Over 100 lbs (Very Heavy): NEVER

PUSH/PULL 2: OCCASIONALLY

CLIMB/BALANCE 3: OCCASIONALLY

STOOP/SQUAT: OCCASIONALLY

KNEEL: OCCASIONALLY

BEND: OCCASIONALLY

REACH ABOVE SHOULDER: OCCASIONALLY

TWIST: OCCASIONALLY

GRASP OBJECTS 4: FREQUENTLY

MANIPULATE OBJECTS 5: OCCASIONALLY

MANUAL DEXTERITY 6: OCCASIONALLY

1 (Drive Vehicle: Van, pallet jack)

2 (Push/Pull: Hand truck, dolly, product)

3 (Climb/Balance: In/Out of trucks)

4 (Grasp Objects: Pens, telephone, paper, computer mouse, boxes, hand truck handle/control, dolly handle, steering wheel)

5 (Manipulate Objects: Paper files, spread sheets, boxes of product, hand truck/dolly gear shift)

6 (Manual Dexterity: Typing, use of office machines such as copiers, printers)

This role may also receive annual incentive plan bonus.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between

$85,000 - $135,000

EOE– Race/Color/Religion/Sex/SexualOrientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/ Age/Genetic Information /Protected Veteran/Disability Status