Freight Operator

Freight Operator Destination Expediters Drexel Hill, PA Job Details Full-time $57,000 - $97,000 a year 12 hours ago Qualifications Customer communication Pricing Document review (document control) Reputation management Operations management SAP Hazmat Logistics Mid-level Supply chain transportation management Freight forwarding logistics Client invoicing Communication skills Transportation documentation for distribution operations Under 1 year Shipping documentation Full Job Description Most freight coordinators spend their day waiting to be told what to do. This role is for someone who has already checked before you asked. Destination Expediters handles tradeshow freight for exhibitors — the people who need their booth, equipment, and materials to arrive at the right venue, at the right dock, at the right time. In this world, a wrong code or a missed deadline doesn't mean a delayed package. It means someone's booth doesn't show up for their biggest sales event of the year. We're a small, specialized team. We don't chase every shipper. We've built a reputation in the tradeshow freight world for being the house that calls you back — and we're hiring one person who wants to help us protect that reputation and grow it.

THE PATH

Operator (Day 1): $57,000-$70,000/year. You handle the full client communication and shipment cycle. Quote, execute, invoice. You're responsive — before the client has to ask. Senior Operator (12-18 months): $70,000-$85,000/year. You own complex accounts independently. Your files don't need a second set of eyes before they go out. You've earned the trust. Operations Lead (24-36 months): $85,000-$97,000/year. You run the day-to-day. Gregory handles relationships, direction, and the decisions that actually require him. You handle everything else. This is a seat worth building toward.

WHAT THIS JOB ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

Be honest with yourself before you keep reading. This job involves a lot of detail work that doesn't feel important until the moment it's wrong. You'll review documentation for codes and deadlines that most people would skim. You'll follow up on carriers who haven't confirmed, update clients before they call you, and close out invoices that other people would let sit. When a shipment runs into trouble on a Thursday evening, you work the problem. You don't look at your phone and calculate how far past 5 pm it is. Tradeshow move-in windows don't negotiate — and the clients on the other end of those shipments are counting on you to figure it out. You'll also talk to clients who are stressed. Exhibitors dealing with tradeshow freight are often doing it for the first time, or they've been burned before. They need someone who can hear the anxiety in the email and respond with information — not reassurance, not vague updates. Actual information. If the detail work sounds exhausting, or if "I'll respond first thing tomorrow" sounds like a reasonable default, this role isn't for you. That's not a knock — it's the wrong fit. This job asks for something specific, and not everyone has it. If you've worked in freight and you recognized every scenario above — and you're nodding, not wincing — keep reading.

WHO BELONGS HERE

Relentless Responsiveness means a client email that lands at 6 pm on a Friday gets at least a "Got it, I'll handle it Monday morning" before the weekend. It means you've already looked at the shipment before Gregory knows there was a question about it. Honest, Even When It Hurts, means when a client's timeline isn't possible, you tell them — before they find out at the venue. You don't quote a job at a number that won't hold up and hope nobody notices. You do what's in their best interest, even if that means sending them to a different vendor. Own the Details means you're not the kind of person who needs someone to tell them to double-check the documentation. You already did. You find problems before they become emergencies, and you arrive at the conversation with a plan, not just a heads-up. Work That Doesn't Watch the Clock means you understand this job isn't punching in and out. The work is done when the client's shipment is taken care of — not when the calendar says it's time to stop.

WHAT YOU NEED

Experience in freight forwarding, logistics coordination, or a closely related operations role Comfort with freight documentation — bills of lading, customs paperwork, carrier confirmations Strong written communication — you can send a client update that's clear, confident, and doesn't create more questions than it answers Authorized to work in the United States Helpful, not required: SAP experience or familiarity with cost capture and routing software Tradeshow or events logistics background Hazmat training or certification

WHY DESTINATION EXPEDITERS

You'll see the direct connection between your work and client outcomes — this isn't a support role inside a bureaucracy Clear path to Operations Lead — the role Gregory has described in his three-year plan is currently unfilled, and it's yours to grow into A client book that values service over price — clients come back because we call them back, not because we're the cheapest option Small team, no politics. You'll know everyone, and everyone will know the work you do.

THE HIRING PROCESS

You apply. Takes 5 minutes. If your background fits, we schedule a 15-minute phone call. We send you a few written questions about how you work. A 45-minute interview — real scenarios, real conversations.

Final step:

a working session where you look at an actual shipment file and walk us through how you'd handle it. If it's a fit on both sides — welcome to the team. If you've read this far and every hard part sounded familiar instead of alarming, that tells us something.

Compensation:

$57,000 - $97,000 yearly

Responsibilities:

Manage all client communication from initial request through final delivery — respond proactively, don't wait for clients to ask. Quote each shipment accurately to protect margin — evaluate complexity, timeline, and risk before pricing. Execute shipments end-to-end — coordinate carriers, manage documentation, track progress, close out files. Find problems before they become emergencies — review active shipments, flag issues, and have a plan ready. Complete invoicing accurately and on time — every closed shipment gets closed on the books.

Qualifications:

Required:

2+ years in freight forwarding, logistics coordination, or related operations role. Proficiency with freight documentation — bills of lading, customs paperwork, and carrier confirmations. Strong written communication — clear, confident client-facing correspondence. U.S. work authorization. Ability to work onsite full-time.

You do NOT need:

No tradeshow freight experience required — we will orient you to the tradeshow world. No specific software certification required — SAP and routing software experience is a bonus, not a barrier. About Company Destination Expediters handles tradeshow freight forwarding for exhibitors who can't afford surprises. Clients are standing at a booth trying to close deals — not tracking down their shipment or wondering if we got their email. We specialize in one vertical, and we're better at it than most because we answer when there's a problem, tell clients the truth before it costs them, and find issues before they become emergencies. The cheaper option exists. Clients call us because they've already tried it. We're building toward a 5-person team and a reputation as the company that calls you back — in an industry where that shouldn't be a differentiator, but still is.