Transportation Team Lead: Freight Planning & Mentoring

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

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.