Transportation Specialist Lead

Custom Goods Logistics; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Custom Goods Logistics seeks a Transportation Specialist Lead to guide the day-to-day transportation and dispatch activities within a fast-paced 3PL environment. You will plan freight movements, mentor specialists, and ensure on-time pickup and delivery aligned with customer SLAs.

The role requires strong leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving skills with experience in TMS and load boards. Collaboration with warehouses and customer service is essential to optimize routing and control costs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in logistics, supply chain, transportation preferred.
• 3–5 years in transportation, dispatch, freight brokerage, or logistics coordination.
• 1+ year of leading or mentoring team members is preferred.
• Direct export transload accounts experience required.
• Experience in 3PL, trucking, or freight brokerage environment strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily activities of the transportation/dispatch team, first escalation point for shipment issues.
• Plan and oversee daily freight movements to ensure on-time pickup and delivery.
• Train, mentor, and support Transportation Specialists and Coordinators on processes and systems.
• Communicate with carriers, drivers, and internal teams to track shipment status and resolve delays.
• Source, negotiate rates, and secure capacity with carriers to meet service levels and cost targets.
• Monitor load boards, tender freight, and ensure carrier compliance with insurance, authority, and safety requirements.
• Maintain records of shipments, rates, and carrier performance in the TMS.
• Ensure DOT regulations and hours-of-service compliance.
• Collaborate with warehouse, brokerage, and customer service teams to ensure seamless order fulfillment and on-time delivery.
• Track and report key performance metrics and share results with the team.
• Serve as backup for Transportation Manager and handle after-hours issues as needed.
• Identify and lead process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Support special projects related to network optimization and new customer implementations.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Problem-solving

Multitasking

Education

Associate/Bachelor degree in Logistics

High school diploma or GED

Tools

TMS

Load boards

MS Office

Job description

Summary/Objective

The Transportation Specialist Lead is responsible for guiding the day-to-day activities of the transportation team within a fast-paced third-party logistics (3PL) environment, while also planning and coordinating freight movements directly. This role acts as the primary point of escalation for shipment issues, mentors and supports Transportation Specialists and Coordinators, and ensures on-time pickup and delivery in alignment with customer requirements and service level agreements. The Transportation Specialist Lead works closely with the Transportation Manager, dispatch, operations, and customer service teams to optimize routing, control costs, and maintain compliance with DOT and company safety standards.

Summary/Objective

The Transportation Specialist Lead is responsible for guiding the day-to-day activities of the transportation team within a fast-paced third-party logistics (3PL) environment, while also planning and coordinating freight movements directly. This role acts as the primary point of escalation for shipment issues, mentors and supports Transportation Specialists and Coordinators, and ensures on-time pickup and delivery in alignment with customer requirements and service level agreements. The Transportation Specialist Lead works closely with the Transportation Manager, dispatch, operations, and customer service teams to optimize routing, control costs, and maintain compliance with DOT and company safety standards.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lead and coordinate the daily activities of the transportation/dispatch team, distributing workload and serving as the first point of escalation for shipment issues
• Plan, schedule, and oversee daily freight movements across the team to ensure on-time pickup and delivery
• Train, mentor, and support Transportation Specialists and Coordinators on processes, systems, and best practices
• Communicate with carriers, drivers, and internal teams to track shipment status and proactively resolve delays
• Source, negotiate rates, and secure capacity with carriers to meet customer service levels and cost targets
• Monitor load boards, tender freight, and confirm carrier compliance with insurance, authority, and safety requirements
• Review team work for accuracy and ensure records of shipments, rates, and carrier performance are properly maintained within the transportation management system (TMS)
• Ensure team-wide compliance with DOT regulations, hours-of-service rules, and company safety policies
• Troubleshoot service failures, delivery exceptions, and customer complaints, escalating to the Transportation Manager as needed
• Collaborate with warehouse, brokerage, and customer service teams to ensure seamless order fulfillment and on-time delivery
• Track and report on key performance metrics such as on-time delivery, cost per mile, and carrier scorecards, and share results with the team
• Serve as backup for the Transportation Manager and respond to after-hours or urgent transportation issues as needed to maintain uninterrupted service
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce transportation costs
• Support special projects related to network optimization, mode conversion, or new customer implementations

Core Behaviors

Demonstrate to comply with Custom Goods' Core Behaviors:

• Servant Leadership
• Passion for Excellence
• Integrity
• Resilient
• Intense Safety Focus
• Trust

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation, or related field preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in transportation, dispatch, freight brokerage, or logistics coordination
• 1+ years of experience informally leading, training, or mentoring team members preferred
• Direct experience handling export transload accounts is required
• Experience in a 3PL, trucking, or freight brokerage environment strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of transportation management systems (TMS), load boards, and routing/scheduling practices
• Working knowledge of DOT regulations, hours-of-service rules, and carrier compliance requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and transportation or logistics software
• Strong leadership, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple shipments, priorities, and team members in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Experience working directly with carriers, owner-operators, or drivers preferred
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends, to support transportation needs

AAP/EEO Statement

Custom Goods, LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, citizenship status, uniform service member status, age, disability, sexual and gender orientation, genetic information or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. This commitment extends to all aspects of Custom Goods' employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.