Transportation Operations Manager

Jobtailor; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Long Beach is seeking an experienced Logistics Operations Leader to oversee driver performance, service reliability, and fleet readiness across ports. You will manage daily transportation, safety compliance, and cost controls while coordinating with dispatch and supporting same-day recovery efforts.

The role requires hands-on leadership, driving duties at peak times, and strong capabilities in safety training, audits, and staff management.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, maritime operations, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in transportation, logistics, or maritime operations strongly preferred.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required.
• TWIC must be obtained within 30 days of hire if not already obtained.
• Maintain all certifications, licenses, and credentials required for the position throughout employment.
• Proficient in computer software and applications, with ability to adapt to new technologies and tools.

Responsibilities

• Serve as local operational leader for driver performance, service reliability, fleet readiness, safety, and cost control across assigned ports.
• Oversee daily transportation and logistics activities to ensure safe, cost-effective, high-quality service delivery.
• Manage service quality, escalations, fleet readiness, maintenance compliance, and operational performance.
• Coordinate with dispatch leadership and support same-day recovery efforts.
• Participate in rotating weekend and after-hours support.
• Oversee fleet maintenance, inspections, licensing, vendor servicing, tracking, and compliance documentation.
• Perform driving duties during peak demand, service recovery, and coverage gaps.
• Promote safety-first practices and enforce safety policies, defensive driving standards, and HSEQ requirements.
• Monitor safety performance, incidents, and trends; conduct safety coaching and corrective actions.
• Maintain current driver certifications, licenses, medicals, and TWIC requirements.
• Prepare for compliance audits with internal and external teams.
• Manage the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, discipline, and terminations.
• Ensure required operational and safety training is completed and documented.
• Approve driver schedules and timecards; manage overtime, workforce planning, staffing, and resource allocation.
• Evaluate staffing levels, team structure, and workload distribution to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
• Maintain visible leadership through regular office and field visits, including office visits at least quarterly.
• Represent the company at maritime organizations, industry activities, customer meetings, sales calls, and events.
• Maintain relationships with vendors, customers, hotels, terminal operators, airport representatives, and agencies.
• Identify growth opportunities, service gaps, potential clients, and new revenue streams.
• Support expansion of warehousing, logistics, and last-mile delivery services.
• Monitor overtime, mileage reimbursements, traffic fines, incidental expenses, billing accuracy, ancillary charges, and vendor invoices.
• Implement cost-control measures and resolve billing disputes.
• Manage vendor and transportation partner performance against service, pricing, safety, operational, and contractual standards.
• Serve as primary on-call contact for operational issues and disputes.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and transportation technology.
• Travel between regional offices and customer sites as required.
• Abide by company HSEQ policies and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Conflict resolution

Organizational skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, maritime operations

Tools

Computer software

Transportation technology

Job description

• Serve as local operational leader for driver performance, service reliability, fleet readiness, safety, and cost control across assigned ports
• Oversee daily transportation and logistics activities to ensure safe, cost-effective, high-quality service delivery
• Manage service quality, escalations, fleet readiness, maintenance compliance, and operational performance
• Coordinate with dispatch leadership and support same-day recovery efforts
• Participate in rotating weekend and after-hours support
• Oversee fleet maintenance, inspections, licensing, vendor servicing, tracking, and compliance documentation
• Perform driving duties during peak demand, service recovery, and coverage gaps
• Promote safety-first practices and enforce safety policies, defensive driving standards, and HSEQ requirements
• Monitor safety performance, incidents, and trends; conduct safety coaching and corrective actions
• Maintain current driver certifications, licenses, medicals, and TWIC requirements
• Prepare for compliance audits with internal and external teams
• Manage the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, coaching, discipline, and terminations
• Ensure required operational and safety training is completed and documented
• Approve driver schedules and timecards; manage overtime, workforce planning, staffing, and resource allocation
• Evaluate staffing levels, team structure, and workload distribution to improve efficiency and responsiveness
• Maintain visible leadership through regular office and field visits, including office visits at least quarterly
• Represent the company at maritime organizations, industry activities, customer meetings, sales calls, and events
• Maintain relationships with vendors, customers, hotels, terminal operators, airport representatives, and agencies
• Identify growth opportunities, service gaps, potential clients, and new revenue streams
• Support expansion of warehousing, logistics, and last-mile delivery services
• Monitor overtime, mileage reimbursements, traffic fines, incidental expenses, billing accuracy, ancillary charges, and vendor invoices
• Implement cost-control measures and resolve billing disputes
• Manage vendor and transportation partner performance against service, pricing, safety, operational, and contractual standards
• Serve as primary on-call contact for operational issues and disputes
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and transportation technology
• Travel between regional offices and customer sites as required
• Abide by company HSEQ policies and procedures

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED required
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, maritime operations, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in transportation, logistics, or maritime operations strongly preferred
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record required
• Reliable and consistent transportation and valid auto insurance compliant with state regulations
• TWIC must be obtained within 30 days of hire if not already obtained
• Maintain all certifications, licenses, and credentials required for the position throughout employment
• Proficient in computer software and applications, with ability to adapt to new technologies and tools
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and deliver short-term analytics and long-term projects
• Strong communication, leadership, organizational, time management, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills
• Ability to collaborate across multiple departmental functions and with in-office and remote teams
• Ability to perform and deliver results under pressure
• Ability to maintain regular onsite presence and support office and field operations
• Flexible schedule availability, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing required under applicable regulations

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in transportation and logistics management, ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards while effectively leading teams and managing vendor relationships. Proficient in performance monitoring, cost control, and implementing service quality improvements.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Transportation Management
• Fleet Maintenance Compliance
• Safety Policy Enforcement
• Vendor Performance Management
• Operational Leadership

Hard Skills

• Logistics Management
• Fleet Readiness
• Service Quality Management
• Compliance Auditing
• Cost Control Measures
• Driving Duties
• Performance Analytics
• Staffing and Resource Allocation
• TWIC Certification
• HSEQ Compliance

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills

Certifications & Qualifications

• Valid Driver's License
• TWIC Certification

Industry Keywords

• Maritime Operations
• Transportation Logistics
• Safety Standards
• Operational Performance
• Vendor Servicing

Tools & Technologies

• Computer Software Proficiency
• Transportation Technology