Outbound Freight Manager

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Description

Reports to - Director of Transportation

Job Summary: The Outbound Freight Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing outbound freight shipments that move outside NEFCO's normal private-fleet delivery network. This role evaluates shipment requirements, selects the most effective and economical transportation method, coordinates brokered carriers, ensures freight is properly prepared and documented, and works cross-functionally to provide reliable, cost-conscious service to NEFCO customers and Orangefield locations.

Job Duties:

• Review outbound shipment demand and determine the appropriate shipping method based on destination, shipment size, product type, urgency, service requirements, and cost.
• Evaluate when freight should move through an Orangefield/service-center shuttle, parcel carrier, or brokered carrier and coordinate the selected method.
• Analyze outbound and picking queues to identify freight requiring next-day or time-sensitive transportation and schedule carriers proactively.
• Coordinate brokered transportation, including flatbeds, box trucks, sprinter vans, and other appropriate equipment based on the freight being shipped.
• Select the most economical transportation option that meets customer and operational requirements and identify opportunities to reduce outbound freight cost.
• Adjust carrier plans, stop sequence, or equipment requirements when shipment volume or customer needs change after the original transportation plan is created.
• Partner with Shipping and warehouse leadership to ensure outbound freight is completely picked, consolidated, wrapped, labeled, weighed, measured, staged, and ready when the carrier arrives.
• Ensure outbound shipments are accurately matched to ship tickets, manifests, Bills of Lading (BOLs), and other required shipping documentation.
• Create or coordinate Best Way manifests and ensure freight cost, carrier information, shipment photos, BOLs, and related documentation are captured and retained in the appropriate NEFCO systems.
• Communicate transportation cost to the appropriate stakeholders and escalate shipments when transportation cost is disproportionate to the value of the product or requires business approval.
• Maintain clear pickup and staging visibility so warehouse teams and carriers can quickly identify freight, stop sequence, carrier, and shipment status.
• Coordinate carrier arrival, loading, signed BOLs, PRO numbers, and completion of outbound freight documentation.
• Work closely with Sales, Customer Service, Shipping, Inventory, Transportation, and carrier partners to resolve outbound freight issues and protect the customer experience.
• Prepare freight quotes for Sales and Purchasing by evaluating carrier options, service requirements, shipment characteristics, and transportation cost.
• Respond to daily freight-quote requests with timely, accurate transportation-cost estimates to support customer, sales, and purchasing decisions.
• Provide outbound freight planning and transportation support for new and growing Orangefield locations before normal branch delivery capabilities are fully operational.
• Track recurring service, cost, carrier, damage, delay, and documentation issues and recommend process improvements.
• Help develop and maintain standardized outbound freight procedures and best practices across applicable NEFCO locations.
• Support evaluation of third-party providers and technology.
• Support carrier/broker contracting requirements and compliance initiatives.
• Ensure safe work practices are followed during freight staging, carrier interaction, and loading activities.
• Complete all assigned NEFCO training and support company safety, compliance, and continuous-improvement expectations.

Responsible for upholding the Leader's Safety Six protocol:

• Don't tolerate unsafe acts
• Identify and fix unsafe conditions
• Report EVERY incident
• Conduct accident investigations
• Communicate with HR about incidents and subsequent investigations
• WALK THE TALK

Requirements

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in logistics, transportation, freight, warehousing, distribution, or a related operational environment preferred.
• Experience coordinating LTL, truckload, flatbed, box truck, sprinter van, parcel, or brokered transportation strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of shipment planning, carrier selection, Bills of Lading, freight documentation, weights, dimensions, and shipment staging.
• Demonstrated ability to balance customer service, transportation cost, urgency, and operational requirements when making freight decisions.
• Must be an effective communicator up, down, and across the organization and able to work with warehouse teams, Sales, Customer Service, carriers, and transportation partners.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree or relevant logistics/transportation experience preferred.
• Ability to use NEFCO's ERP and shipping systems; experience with Eclipse or similar ERP/WMS systems is a plus.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook and Excel and the ability to learn carrier, broker, manifest, and document-management systems.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and basic math skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and manage multiple time-sensitive shipments in a fast-paced environment.
• Must have a positive, customer-focused, hands-on attitude and be comfortable working in a warehouse/distribution environment.
• Ability to review and interpret shipping documents, computer images, manifests, BOLs, product information, and written procedures.
• Ability to safely operate warehouse equipment when required and maintain applicable certifications.

Salary Description

$60-80k/yr based on experience