An established asset-based refrigerated truckload carrier is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide leadership, accountability and strategic direction for its transportation operations. This position will lead the day-to-day performance of the Operations organization, including Fleet Management, Load Planning and After-Hours Operations. The Director will be responsible for developing operations leaders, driving fleet performance and ensuring the organization consistently delivers against customer, driver and company expectations. This is a leadership role for someone who can operate at both strategic and execution levels . The successful candidate will know how to lead through managers, establish accountability and use data to improve performance—but will also remain connected to the day-to-day operation. When an unexpected staffing or operational need arises, this leader must be willing and capable of stepping in, solving the immediate problem and helping keep freight and drivers moving. The ideal candidate will have substantial full truckload (FTL) carrier operations experience , preferably within refrigerated/temperature-controlled transportation, and a demonstrated record of leading managers and teams in a fast-paced, service-driven trucking environment. Key Responsibilities Operations Leadership & Accountability. Provide leadership, direction and accountability for Fleet Management, Load Planning, After-Hours Operations and other assigned operational functions. Lead, coach and develop Operations Managers, Fleet Managers/Driver Managers, Load Planners and other operations personnel to establish clear expectations and consistently high levels of performance. Establish operating expectations and hold leaders accountable for fleet and individual performance against company objectives. Maintain visibility into daily fleet execution, emerging service risks, driver concerns, equipment constraints and other conditions that may affect operational performance. Develop leadership depth within the department through coaching, performance management, succession planning and professional development. Fleet Performance Drive achievement of fleet performance objectives through Operations Managers and Driver Managers, with particular focus on revenue per truck, miles per truck, driver productivity, equipment utilization, service performance and fleet efficiency. Establish and monitor operational KPIs, identify performance trends and ensure appropriate action plans are implemented when results fall below expectations. Maintain accountability for on-time pickup and delivery performance, including proactive identification of at-risk loads and appropriate escalation of service issues. Work with Operations Managers and Driver Managers to improve driver retention and reduce preventable turnover through effective communication, relationship management, consistent expectations and timely resolution of driver concerns. Oversee operational execution supporting the success, productivity and retention of independent contractors and lease operators, recognizing the different business considerations involved in successfully managing company drivers and partnering with independent contractors. Monitor service failures, freight claims and other operational exceptions; identify root causes and implement corrective actions designed to prevent recurrence. Drive effective load planning, freight needs/balance and fleet utilization while balancing customer requirements, driver needs, Hours of Service, equipment availability, home-time considerations and network priorities. Hands-On Operational Leadership Maintain sufficient working knowledge of the company's operational systems, customers, network and processes to provide effective hands-on support when necessary. Ensure continuity of operations during unexpected staffing gaps, high-volume periods or significant service disruptions. When appropriate management coverage is unavailable, this leader must be willing and able to step into the operation to help resolve immediate needs—including load planning, driver dispatch, service recovery and other time-sensitive operational functions. Demonstrate a leadership approach that combines strategic oversight with a willingness to work alongside the team when circumstances require additional support. Remain close enough to the day-to-day operation to understand operational challenges firsthand and make informed decisions affecting drivers, customers and the business. Provide leadership and escalation support for significant service issues, driver concerns, equipment disruptions and other time-sensitive operational challenges. The expectation is not for the Director to routinely perform the responsibilities of an Operations Manager, Driver Manager or Load Planner. Rather, the Director is ultimately accountable for operational continuity and must have both the knowledge and willingness to step in when necessary to keep the operation moving. Driver & Independent Contractor Performance Establish a culture in which Driver Managers actively manage driver performance, productivity, communication and retention rather than simply reacting to daily dispatch requirements. Ensure Driver Managers understand and take ownership of the financial and operational performance of their assigned fleets. Hold Operations Managers and Driver Managers accountable for achieving or exceeding established revenue-per-truck and on-time service objectives. Identify trends affecting driver productivity and retention and work with appropriate departments to develop effective solutions. Support successful independent contractor and lease-operator relationships by ensuring operations personnel understand the importance of utilization, communication, consistency and business opportunity to contractor success. Cross-Functional Leadership Partner closely with Customer Service leadership to align capacity with customer demand, address service risks and ensure customer commitments are effectively executed. Collaborate with Safety & Compliance leadership to reinforce a strong safety culture and ensure operations are conducted in accordance with company policies and applicable federal and state transportation regulations. Partner with Recruiting and Driver Development teams to identify current and anticipated driver staffing requirements and support successful driver onboarding, fleet placement and retention. Coordinate with Maintenance leadership to minimize equipment downtime, improve communication regarding equipment availability and ensure preventive and corrective maintenance needs are appropriately addressed. Collaborate with senior leadership and appropriate departments on operating efficiency, resource allocation and initiatives designed to improve overall fleet performance. Ensure effective communication and continuity between daytime, evening, overnight and weekend operations. Process & Continuous Improvement Develop, implement and continuously improve standard operating procedures, workflows and accountability measures throughout the Operations department. Use operational data to identify trends, diagnose performance gaps and develop actionable improvement plans. Identify opportunities to improve loaded miles, reduce unnecessary empty miles, increase tractor utilization and improve overall fleet productivity. Evaluate operational processes, staffing, technology and resource allocation and recommend improvements when appropriate. Ensure new operations employees receive effective onboarding, systems training and ongoing development. Foster an environment of accountability, urgency, teamwork and professional communication throughout the Operations organization. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Extensive knowledge of asset-based full truckload transportation operations , including fleet management, driver management, dispatch, load planning and service execution. Strong understanding of the operational requirements and service expectations associated with refrigerated/temperature-controlled truckload transportation. Demonstrated understanding of the operational and business factors that contribute to the success and retention of both company drivers and independent contractors/lease operators. Working knowledge of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), Hours of Service requirements and other regulations affecting commercial fleet operations. Demonstrated ability to lead managers, establish accountability and develop high-performing transportation operations teams. Strong understanding of transportation KPIs, including revenue per truck, miles per truck, driver productivity, equipment utilization, driver retention, on-time service and operational efficiency. Ability to analyze operational data, identify root causes and translate findings into measurable improvement. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to remain effective in a high-volume, time-sensitive operating environment. Ability to transition effectively between executive-level priorities and hands-on operational problem solving. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with drivers, independent contractors, operations personnel, department leaders, customers and senior management. Strong organizational skills with an emphasis on accountability and follow-through. Proficiency with transportation management systems and related trucking technology. McLeod, TMW or AS400 Software experience strongly preferred. Qualifications The ideal candidate will have: Significant progressive leadership experience within asset-based full truckload (FTL) carrier operations. Prior experience directly leading Operations Managers, Fleet Managers/Driver Managers, Load Planners and/or other transportation operations personnel. Previous responsibility for multiple fleets and a sizable truckload operation. A minimum of 5 years of hands-on truckload operations experience in fleet management, driver management, dispatch and/or load planning. A minimum of 2 years of management experience overseeing truckload operations and operations personnel, with progressive leadership responsibility strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience managing fleet performance against measurable objectives such as revenue per truck, miles per truck, driver productivity, driver retention and on-time service. Experience partnering and supporting independent contractors and/or lease operators strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience using a trucking Transportation Management System (TMS). Experience within refrigerated or temperature-controlled truckload transportation strongly preferred. Experience within an asset-based carrier environment required. A demonstrated record of improving service, productivity, communication, accountability and operational performance. Leadership Profile This position requires a leader who understands that effective transportation leadership happens both through people and alongside people. The Director of Operations should be capable of developing managers, setting expectations, interpreting performance data and driving long-term operational improvement. At the same time, this individual must remain connected to the realities of daily truckload operations. When everything is running as planned, the Director should be leading and developing the organization—not doing the team's work for them. When circumstances change, however, this leader should be capable of getting directly involved, making decisions and helping the team solve the immediate problem. Successful leadership in this role means owning the outcome—not simply overseeing the process. Experience specifically within full truckload carrier operations is essential. Experience limited primarily to LTL, parcel, brokerage, warehousing or other transportation segments without substantial FTL carrier operations experience will not satisfy the core experience requirements for this position.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Paid time off Relocation assistance Vision insurance Application Question(s): How many years of full truckload (FTL) carrier operations experience do you have? Please describe the largest truckload operation for which you have held direct or indirect operational responsibility, including approximate tractor count and the number of Operations Managers, Fleet Managers/Driver Managers and/or Load Planners you led. Which full truckload carriers provided your primary operations leadership experience, and what positions did you hold? Describe your experience managing fleet performance against revenue-per-truck and miles-per-truck goals. What responsibility have you had for driver retention and turnover, and what strategies have you used to improve retention? Describe your experience managing on-time pickup/delivery performance and addressing recurring service failures. What experience do you have working with refrigerated or temperature-controlled truckload freight? What experience do you have supporting independent contractors and/or lease-purchase operators? Which trucking Transportation Management Systems have you used, and approximately how many years of experience do you have with each? Please describe your experience with McLeod/TMW/AS400 Software, if applicable.

Work Location:

In person