Director of Transportation

M&F Talent has a CEA producer client that is seeking a Director of Transportation to oversee their fleet operations, refrigerated logistics, and third-party transportation partnerships across locations in New York, Florida, Texas, and Indiana.

This role will be responsible for managing approximately 40 fleet assets, ensuring DOT compliance, cost efficiency, and operational excellence in our refrigerated (reefer) delivery network. The Director of Transportation will also oversee third-party truck broker contracts and load booking, optimizing their freight logistics.

• Location: Multi-site (NY, FL, TX, IN)
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Compensation: $100 – 125K DOE

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee company-owned and leased refrigerated box trucks, ensuring maximum uptime and efficiency.
• Manage Samsara telematics and GPS tracking systems, utilizing data for route optimization, driver monitoring, and fuel efficiency.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs for both vehicles and refrigeration units (reefers).
• Ensure temperature-controlled deliveries meet food safety and cold chain compliance requirements.
• Optimize fleet deployment and vehicle rotation strategies to balance wear-and-tear and asset utilization.
• Ensure full compliance with DOT, FMCSA, and OSHA regulations for multi-state operations.
• Monitor Samsara dash cam and telematics data to improve driver safety and reduce accidents.
• Maintain up-to-date records for driver qualification files, HOS logs, and vehicle inspections.
• Implement and enforce driver safety programs, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Manage accident investigations, insurance claims, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Oversee and manage contracts with third-party trucking brokers, carriers, and logistics providers.
• Utilize Samsara’s real-time vehicle tracking to coordinate third-party shipments and deliveries efficiently.
• Develop contingency plans for freight disruptions, securing backup logistics providers.
• Negotiate and manage freight costs while ensuring reliable, on-time service levels.
• Ensure third-party carriers adhere to food safety and refrigerated transport standards.
• Utilize Samsara data analytics to track fuel consumption, idle time, and route efficiencies.
• Develop budget forecasts for transportation expenses, including fuel, maintenance, fleet leasing, and third-party freight.
• Identify opportunities to reduce freight and operational costs without compromising service quality.
• Implement driver performance incentives using data-driven metrics from Samsara and other fleet systems.
• Supervise and train fleet coordinators, mechanics, and drivers across multiple locations.
• Utilize Samsara’s driver scorecards to track and improve driver behavior, ensuring compliance with company safety policies.
• Oversee driver recruitment, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, efficiency, and professionalism across transportation teams.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in transportation management, logistics, or fleet operations, preferably in refrigerated food distribution.
• Hands-on experience with Samsara fleet management software for tracking, telematics, and driver performance.
• Strong knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, fleet maintenance, cold chain logistics, and transportation compliance.
• Experience managing multi-location fleet operations, including refrigerated truck deliveries.
• Proven ability to analyze data, optimize routes, reduce freight costs, and manage third-party trucking brokers.
• Expertise in GPS tracking systems, telematics, and ERP integration (NetSuite experience preferred).
• Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to travel frequently between client locations as needed.
• Experience managing refrigerated truck fleets (reefers) and cold chain logistics (preferred).
• Certifications such as Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) or Fleet Management Certification (preferred).
• Experience with negotiating and managing third-party freight and trucking broker contracts (preferred).
• Proficiency in logistics and transportation management software (preferred).

Contact us if you would like to learn more about our Director of Transportation job or M&F Talent’s CEA recruiting services.