Transportation Manager (Final Mile)

Ashley Furniture Industries; Mesquite (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision, EAP

Paid Time Off increasing with tenure

Employee Discount on home furnishings

Professional Development Opportunities

Tuition Assistance

Ashley Wellness Centers

401(k) and Profit Sharing

Life Insurance

Job summary

Ashley Furniture Industries is seeking a Transportation Manager to lead the final mile delivery operations at our retail fulfillment center in Mesquite, TX. You will oversee route optimization, carrier partnerships, and delivery team management to ensure on-time, careful delivery to customers.

Responsibilities include fleet maintenance, SOP implementation, DOT compliance, and cross-functional collaboration with warehouse and customer service.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in supply chain, logistics, business admin, or related field (preferred).
• 5+ years in logistics, transportation, or last-mile delivery operations.
• 3+ years of people management leading frontline teams.
• Strong understanding of route optimization, fleet management, and delivery logistics.
• Experience with transportation management systems (TMS) and routing software.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and data-driven decision skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee final mile delivery operations, including route planning, scheduling, and dispatch.
• Manage delivery fleet operations ensuring maintenance, compliance, and efficient utilization.
• Monitor real-time delivery performance and address service disruptions.
• Coordinate with warehouse for seamless handoff from fulfillment to delivery.
• Implement and maintain SOPs for final mile processes.
• Ensure DOT, safety standards, and company policies are followed.
• Recruit, train, and develop delivery drivers, dispatchers, and coordinators.
• Lead performance reviews and provide coaching to improve results.
• Negotiate contracts with third-party carriers and service providers.
• Develop KPIs, monitor costs, and optimize budgets for delivery operations.
• Drive customer-centric delivery experiences and proactive communications.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Analytical skills

Communication

People management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

TMS

Routing software

Excel

Onfleet/Bringg

Job description

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you’re ready to grow, you’ve come to the right place. With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.

Summary: Are you passionate about last-mile logistics and delivering exceptional customer experiences? Ashley Furniture is seeking a dynamic Transportation Manager to lead our delivery operations at our retail fulfillment center. In this critical role, you\'ll oversee route optimization, carrier partnerships, delivery team management, and ensure every customer receives their furniture on time and with care.

Responsibilities

• Operations Management
• Oversee daily final mile delivery operations, including route planning, scheduling, and dispatch
• Manage delivery fleet operations ensuring vehicles are maintained, compliant, and efficiently utilized
• Monitor real-time delivery performance and proactively address service disruptions
• Coordinate with warehouse operations for seamless handoff from fulfillment to delivery
• Implement and maintain standard operating procedures for all final mile processes
• Ensure compliance with DOT regulations, safety standards, and company policies

Team Leadership

• Recruit, train, and develop high-performing delivery drivers, dispatchers, and coordinators
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching to improve team results
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and customer service excellence
• Manage staffing levels to meet fluctuating demand and seasonal volume changes
• Lead daily huddles to align team on priorities and performance

Carrier & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain relationships with third-party delivery carriers and service providers
• Negotiate contracts and service level agreements to optimize cost and service quality
• Monitor carrier performance metrics and conduct regular business reviews
• Identify and onboard new delivery partners to expand capacity and coverage
• Resolve escalated issues with carriers related to service failures or billing

Performance Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Track and analyze KPIs including on-time delivery, cost per delivery, and customer satisfaction
• Identify trends, root causes of failures, and opportunities for improvement
• Implement process improvements and technology solutions to enhance efficiency
• Develop and present performance reports to senior leadership
• Lead cross-functional projects to optimize end-to-end fulfillment processes

Customer Experience

• Ensure proactive customer communication about delivery windows and status updates
• Manage escalated customer issues and drive resolution
• Implement customer feedback mechanisms to improve service quality
• Collaborate with customer service teams on delivery-related inquiries
• Maintain customer satisfaction scores at or above company targets

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage annual operating budget for final mile operations
• Monitor daily expenses and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Optimize route density and delivery efficiency to reduce per-unit costs
• Track and report on budget variance and implement corrective actions

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field; Preferred
• 5+ years of experience in logistics, transportation, or last-mile delivery operations
• 3+ years of people management experience leading frontline operations teams
• Strong understanding of route optimization, fleet management, and delivery logistics
• Proven track record of managing budgets and driving operational efficiency
• Experience with transportation management systems (TMS) and routing software
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in retail, e-commerce, or furniture/large item delivery operations
• Knowledge of DOT regulations and commercial driver requirements
• Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement certification
• Experience with last-mile technology platforms (Onfleet, Bringg, etc.)
• Familiarity with white glove delivery services and in-home setup operations
• Experience managing both in-house delivery teams and third-party carriers

Work Environment

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.
• Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.
• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.
• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.
• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

About

Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture’s Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:

Corporate Social Responsibility

View Our Corporate Brochure

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.