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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Freight Consultant

💰 $75,000 - $125,000

LogisticsSupply ChainConsultingTransportationAnalysis

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for untangling complex logistics puzzles? This role requires a results-driven Freight Consultant to join our team and act as a trusted advisor to our clients. In this pivotal role, you will dive deep into our clients' supply chains, analyzing their current freight operations to identify critical opportunities for cost reduction and service enhancement. You will be the architect of smarter, more efficient transportation strategies, leveraging your expertise in carrier negotiation, network design, and cutting-edge logistics technology. This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact by transforming client challenges into competitive advantages.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Coordinator or Specialist
  • Transportation Analyst / Supply Chain Analyst
  • Carrier Sales Representative

Advancement To:

  • Senior Freight/Logistics Consultant
  • Logistics Manager or Director
  • Supply Chain Solutions Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Procurement or Sourcing Manager
  • Supply Chain Project Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze clients' existing transportation and logistics operations to pinpoint inefficiencies, service gaps, and cost-saving opportunities.
  • Develop, present, and implement comprehensive freight management strategies that align with client business objectives and market conditions.
  • Conduct detailed freight cost analysis, including lane-by-lane analysis, carrier rate benchmarking, and audits of accessorial charges to ensure accuracy.
  • Lead and execute carrier procurement events, managing the entire lifecycle of RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs from creation and distribution to analysis and final award.
  • Negotiate complex freight rates, service level agreements (SLAs), and contracts with a diverse portfolio of carriers across LTL, FTL, ocean, air, and parcel modes.
  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert and strategic advisor to clients on all matters related to freight, logistics, and supply chain optimization.
  • Design and model optimized transportation networks to improve service levels, reduce transit times, and minimize overall logistics spend.
  • Develop and deliver compelling business cases, performance dashboards, and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to key client stakeholders and executive leadership.
  • Utilize and configure various Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to streamline freight booking, real-time visibility, and automated payment processes.
  • Perform meticulous freight invoice audits against contracted rates to identify billing discrepancies and manage the recovery of overcharges.
  • Ensure client operations remain compliant with all relevant domestic and international shipping regulations, including customs, duties, tariffs, and hazmat requirements.
  • Build and cultivate strong, long-term collaborative relationships with both client stakeholders and key carrier partners.
  • Establish, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time performance, cost-per-mile, and freight cost as a percentage of sales.
  • Analyze transportation market trends, fuel surcharge fluctuations, and capacity constraints to provide proactive advice and risk mitigation strategies to clients.
  • Lead cross-functional project teams to successfully implement new logistics processes, technologies, or carrier partnerships from concept to completion.
  • Provide expert training and ongoing support to client teams on logistics best practices, industry standards, and the effective use of transportation technology.
  • Evaluate and recommend emerging logistics technologies, 3PL/4PL service providers, and innovative solutions to enhance clients' supply chain capabilities.
  • Manage complex, end-to-end logistics projects, including new distribution center startups, major network redesigns, and seasonal peak season planning.
  • Perform root cause analysis on service failures, claims, or other operational disruptions and develop robust, sustainable corrective action plans.
  • Create sophisticated financial and operational models to accurately forecast transportation spend and simulate the impact of proposed network or policy changes.
  • Stay current with industry best practices, emerging digital solutions, and regulatory changes impacting the global freight and logistics landscape.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Transportation Management Systems (TMS): Deep expertise with leading TMS platforms (e.g., MercuryGate, Oracle TM, SAP TM, BluJay, TMW).
  • Advanced Data Analysis: High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, Power Query, complex formulas) and experience with SQL for data extraction and manipulation.
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Hands-on experience creating dashboards and reports in tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik.
  • Freight Procurement & RFP Management: Proven ability to manage the end-to-end RFP process for multiple freight modes.
  • Multi-Modal Expertise: In-depth knowledge of pricing structures, tariffs, and operational nuances for LTL, Truckload (FTL), Intermodal, Ocean, and Air freight.
  • Contract Negotiation: Demonstrable experience negotiating carrier contracts, rates, and service level agreements.
  • Supply Chain Modeling: Familiarity with network design and optimization principles; experience with modeling software is a plus.
  • ERP Systems: Understanding of how logistics modules function within major ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
  • Freight Audit & Payment: Knowledge of freight bill auditing, general ledger coding, and payment processes.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Strong understanding of domestic and international shipping regulations, including DOT, FMCSA, and Incoterms.
  • Project Management: Proficiency in managing project timelines, resources, and stakeholder communication.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Ability to see the big picture while also being meticulously detail-oriented in analysis.
  • Negotiation & Influence: Superior ability to influence decisions and negotiate favorable outcomes with carriers and clients.
  • Client Relationship Management: A consultative mindset focused on building trust and delivering exceptional value to clients.
  • Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Problem-Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying problems and implementing effective solutions.
  • Business Acumen: Strong understanding of how transportation impacts broader business goals like profitability and customer satisfaction.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5-10 years of progressive experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain management.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a consulting capacity or a role with direct client-facing and cost-savings responsibilities.
  • A proven track record of successfully managing carrier relationships and negotiating multi-million dollar freight contracts.
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