Distribution Manager

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Summary

The Distribution Manager oversees daily transportation operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant movement of UNC Dairy Products. They manage a fleet of drivers, Route Supervisor and Route Coordinators; manage routing and scheduling; enforce DOT/FMCSA regulations; and maintain fleet readiness. This role serves as the operational link between drivers, customers and cross functional business partners

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight

• Manage a team of 30+ drivers, Route Supervisor and Route Coordinator; set daily priorities and manage the outbound flow of distribution.
• Monitors route execution and responds to customer delivery exceptions and disruption in product supply.
• Manage routing, scheduling, and fleet operations to ensure timely efficient deliveries.
• Responsible for achieving route and fleet KPI’s (Route / Asset utilization %, weekly OT %, Cost per mile targets, etc.)
• Oversee dispatching and load assignments; resolve in‑transit transportation breakdowns and issues effectively.
• Review and approve time records, shift reports, and operational documentation.  

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, and company safety regulations.
• Ensure compliance with driver logs, hours‑of‑service (HOS), vehicle weight limits, and accident reporting.
• Conduct safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations.
• Assist Human Resources in maintaining accurate driver qualification files by site.

Fleet & Equipment Management

• Oversee vehicle maintenance, inspections, and repairs to ensure safety and uptime.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams and Director of Fleet for timely preventive service and repairs on all company owned distribution equipment.
• Coordinates with the distribution network to ensure timely movement of domiciled equipment back to domiciled locations to meet preventative maintenance schedules.

Performance & Cost Management

• Track KPIs such as on‑time delivery, cost‑per‑mile, fuel efficiency, and safety metrics.
• Manage transportation budgets, including fuel, maintenance, and payroll costs.
• Analyze trip logs, fuel usage, and tracking data to identify improvement opportunities.

People Leadership

• Coach drivers Route Supervisor and Route Coordinator; conduct performance reviews and corrective actions.
• Lead team huddles to communicate priorities and performance metrics.
• Address driver concerns, conflicts, and customer issues professionally.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain, business, or related field preferred; high school diploma with extensive experience accepted.
• Some employers require a bachelor’s degree.

Experience

• 5-10 years of transportation, logistics, or fleet operations experience.
• Prior supervisory or lead experience strongly preferred.

Certifications (commonly required or preferred)

• FMCSA reasonable‑suspicion drug & alcohol testing supervisor training.
• CDL, OSHA, CPR/AED, APICS, or other logistics‑related certifications depending on employer.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of DOT and FMCSA regulations.
• Proficiency with TMS, GPS tracking, and fleet management systems.
• Leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities.

Work Schedules:

Workweek will vary and can include Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

Conditions of Employment:

Working safely, following all company policies and complying with all Federal, State and County regulations is a condition of employment.

Pay: $99.2K-$132K/Year*

*The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.