Transportation Operations Manager

Kalmbach Feeds; Ohio; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(K) with match

Paid time off

Life insurance

Job summary

Kalmbach Feeds seeks a Transportation Operations Manager to lead daily transportation for Kalmbach Trucking and Best In Show Logistics. You will own live boards across bulk outbound, inbound, van, and extended-hours coverage to ensure on-time loads at target costs.

You will manage seven planners and coordinators, escalate service issues, and partner with plants, purchasing, and customer service to maintain optimal freight operations. A bachelor’s degree in supply chain or business is preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in transportation/logistics operations.
• 2+ years leading a team.
• Experience with bulk/truckload operations preferred.
• Experience with contractor settlements and payroll preferred.
• Familiarity with transportation management systems and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operating plan for multiple freight modes.
• Coach and develop a seven-person planning team.
• Monitor carrier capacity and protect plant/service targets.
• Escalate and resolve service deviations and root causes.
• Approve daily freight spend within set cost standards.
• Oversee contractor settlements and plan backups.
• Ensure staffing matches freight demand and work hours.
• Track KPIs like on-time pickup, delivery, and cost per load.
• Maintain procedures and cross-training to prevent single points of failure.
• Collaborate with plants, purchasing, customer service, warehousing, safety, and shop.

Skills

Logistics operations

Team leadership

Decision making

FMCSA rules knowledge

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or business

Tools

Beyond Trucks

Job description

Logistics Admin Salary - Full Time Professional Carey, OH, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 2003

About the Role

The Transportation Operations Manager leads the day-to-day transportation operation for Kalmbach Trucking and Best In Show Logistics. This role owns every live board (bulk outbound, inbound, van, and extended-hours coverage) and is accountable for loads being covered on time, at the right cost, every day.

Leading a team of seven planners and coordinators, the Transportation Operations Manager is the single owner of the live operation. This allows senior transportation leadership to focus on network design, carrier strategy, and total transportation cost.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own the daily operating plan across bulk outbound, inbound, and van freight, keeping service and cost on target
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of seven: Driver & Carrier Relations Manager, Senior Bulk Load Planner, Inbound Load Planner, Van Load Planner, Retail Logistics Coordinator, Transportation Contracts & Audit Administrator, and Extended Hours Transportation Coordinator
• Manage capacity by tracking expected and committed carrier and contractor capacity against what is actually delivered, and close gaps before they affect plants or customers
• Serve as the first point of escalation for exceptions and service failures, and drive root‑cause correction
• Approve daily rates and freight spend within the cost standards set by the Regional Transportation Manager
• Oversee contractor settlements, and serve as backup for the bulk plan, weekly contractor settlements, accessorial approvals in Beyond Trucks, and driver and carrier relations
• Set extended‑hours coverage and team staffing to match actual freight demand, and manage team utilization
• Establish, track, and report operating KPIs, including on‑time pickup and delivery, exceptions closed, and cost per load against standard
• Maintain written procedures and cross‑training so that no critical task depends on a single person
• Partner with plant operations, Purchasing, Customer Service, Warehousing, Safety, and the Shop to keep the daily plan current
• Identify capacity and staffing needs early as volume grows and new plants come online

The Right Candidate

• 5+ years of transportation or logistics operations experience, including at least 2 years leading a team
• Experience with bulk (hopper) and/or truckload van operations; experience managing a company or contractor fleet strongly preferred
• Contractor settlements and payroll experience strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of a transportation management system (Beyond Trucks a plus), load‑planning tools, and Microsoft Excel
• Sound judgment making real‑time decisions on service, cost, and capacity
• Credible, clear communicator with drivers, carriers, plant teams, and internal partners
• Working knowledge of FMCSA hours‑of‑service requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, logistics, or business, or equivalent experience

About the Company

Kalmbach Feeds offers the highest quality nutritional products for livestock, poultry, and companion animals. The company was founded in 1963 by Milton and Ruth Kalmbach with a vision to develop the finest products, providing customers with the best possible nutritional value. The Kalmbach family’s traditional core values have served as the compass for consistent success for six decades, and the company has become the regional leader within the animal nutrition industry.

Additional information can be found at www.kalmbachfeeds.com.

Kalmbach Feeds Offers

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits with eligibility on date of hire
• 401(K) (traditional and Roth options) with generous company match
• 3 Weeks Paid Time Off in first year
• Company Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Competitive Compensation
• On Staff Life Coach
• Medical and Dependent Care Reimbursement Plans
• Access to Beach Front Company Condo in Fort Myers, FL

Kalmbach Feeds is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Each applicant for employment is considered solely based on job qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law. The information contained within your resume and application, including employment history, educational history, and references, are subject to verification. Pre‑employment drug screen (hair and urine), physical, and criminal background check required.

Only qualified candidates will be contacted.