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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Freight Manager

💰 $85,000 - $125,000

LogisticsSupply ChainTransportationManagement

🎯 Role Definition

As a Freight Manager, you are the central nervous system of an organization's supply chain, ensuring the seamless, cost-effective, and timely movement of goods. You are a strategic leader, a skilled negotiator, and a master of logistics, responsible for orchestrating the entire transportation lifecycle. This role requires a blend of analytical prowess to optimize routes and costs, and strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain robust relationships with carriers, internal stakeholders, and customers. You will be instrumental in driving operational excellence, mitigating risks, and directly impacting the company's bottom line and customer satisfaction.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Coordinator / Specialist
  • Transportation Planner
  • Freight Broker
  • Supply Chain Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Director of Logistics
  • Senior Manager, Global Transportation
  • Director of Supply Chain
  • Vice President of Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Procurement Manager
  • Distribution Center Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive domestic and international freight strategy that aligns with company goals, focusing on cost reduction, service level enhancement, and transit time optimization.
  • Lead the full-cycle transportation procurement process, including carrier sourcing, conducting RFPs/RFQs, analyzing bids, and negotiating complex freight contracts and pricing agreements for all modes (LTL, FTL, ocean, air, parcel).
  • Manage and cultivate strategic relationships with a diverse portfolio of carriers and 3PL providers, conducting regular business reviews (QBRs) to monitor performance, address issues, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Oversee daily transportation operations, including shipment planning, tendering, tracking, and exception management to ensure on-time and in-full delivery to customers and distribution centers.
  • Administer and optimize the Transportation Management System (TMS), ensuring data integrity, system functionality, and leveraging its capabilities for routing, load optimization, and freight audit.
  • Establish, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as cost per shipment, on-time performance, carrier capacity, and freight cost savings, providing actionable insights to senior leadership.
  • Manage the freight audit and payment process, resolving discrepancies, identifying billing errors, and ensuring accurate and timely payment to carriers to maintain positive partnerships.
  • Lead the investigation and resolution of freight claims for loss or damage, working with carriers, insurance, and internal departments to minimize financial impact.
  • Ensure strict compliance with all transportation-related regulations, including DOT, FMCSA, and international trade laws (customs, tariffs, Incoterms), maintaining necessary documentation and licenses.
  • Develop and manage the annual freight budget, providing accurate forecasting, variance analysis, and implementing cost-control initiatives to achieve financial targets.
  • Mentor, train, and lead a team of logistics coordinators or transportation planners, setting clear objectives, providing regular feedback, and fostering a culture of high performance and professional growth.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Warehouse Operations, Customer Service, Sales, and Procurement, to streamline order-to-delivery processes and resolve logistical challenges.
  • Champion continuous improvement projects within logistics, identifying inefficiencies and implementing innovative solutions, technologies, or processes to enhance operational effectiveness.
  • Analyze complex transportation networks and modeling scenarios to identify opportunities for mode shifting, consolidation, and route optimization to drive significant cost savings.
  • Serve as the primary escalation point for all critical transportation issues, providing timely resolution and clear communication to all affected stakeholders.

Secondary Functions

  • Stay abreast of industry trends, market conditions, fuel surcharges, and new technologies in the transportation sector to inform strategy and maintain a competitive edge.
  • Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all freight-related activities to ensure consistency, quality, and proper training.
  • Manage and report on sustainability initiatives within transportation, such as reducing carbon footprint and utilizing eco-friendly logistics partners.
  • Support new product launches and market expansions by developing effective and scalable transportation solutions and cost models.
  • Participate in the selection and implementation of new logistics technologies and software, including TMS, real-time visibility platforms, and advanced analytics tools.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced proficiency with Transportation Management Systems (TMS) like Oracle TM, Blue Yonder, SAP TM, or MercuryGate.
  • Expert-level knowledge of multi-modal transportation (LTL, FTL, Intermodal, Ocean, Air) principles, practices, and pricing structures.
  • Strong transportation procurement and contract negotiation skills, with a proven track record of successful RFP/RFQ management.
  • In-depth understanding of transportation regulations, including DOT, FMCSA, Hours of Service (HOS), and customs compliance.
    IPC
  • High proficiency in data analysis and reporting using tools like Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs), SQL, or BI platforms (Tableau, Power BI).
  • Experience with international shipping documentation, Incoterms, and customs brokerage processes.
  • Financial acumen for budgeting, freight cost analysis, and managing freight audit and payment processes.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional negotiation and influencing skills to drive favorable outcomes with internal and external partners.
  • Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with a talent for mentoring and developing logistics professionals.
    IPC
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Superior analytical and strategic problem-solving abilities to dissect complex issues and develop data-driven solutions.
  • Keen attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
  • Robust relationship-building and interpersonal skills to foster strong, collaborative partnerships with carriers and internal departments.
  • High degree of adaptability and resilience, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and navigate unforeseen supply chain disruptions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree (e.g., MBA with a Supply Chain concentration) or relevant professional certification (e.g., CTL - Certified in Transportation and Logistics).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-10 years

Preferred: 7+ years of progressive experience in transportation or logistics management, with at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity. Demonstrable experience managing a significant freight spend and a diverse carrier network is highly desired.

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