Manager, Transportation

Work Location Type: Hybrid 

Imperial Supplies, a Grainger Company, is a national distributor of quality maintenance products. Serving the fleet maintenance industry since 1958, Imperial has formed lasting relationships with customers by tailoring our services to meet their changing needs.

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry.

We are seeking a Transportation Manager to lead and optimize domestic transportation activities within our supply chain network. This role is responsible for managing a team of transportation professionals, partnering with third-party vendors, and executing strategies that ensure efficiency, compliance, and exceptional service. The Transportation Manager will play a key role in developing freight solutions, managing carrier relationships, and driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

Imperial Supplies, a Grainger company, is a national distributor of quality maintenance products. Serving the fleet maintenance industry since 1958, Imperial has formed lasting relationships with customers by tailoring our services to meet their changing needs.

At Imperial, people come first. Here’s what we offer:

• Competitive salary   
• Hybrid / Remote schedule
• Monday – Friday work schedule, no nights, or weekends
• Immediate medical, dental, vision; 18 days paid vacation, 6 paid holidays and 6% of annual earnings contributed to your retirement, immediately vested!

Key Responsibilities

• Manage parcel and less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier programs, including expense oversight and alignment with corporate strategy.
• Lead and develop a high-performing transportation team, ensuring customer expectations and financial reporting needs are met.
• Oversee day-to-day freight forwarding operations, ensuring compliant and efficient movement of goods.
• Source, evaluate, and select carriers; build and manage a reliable network to meet organizational demand.
• Lead annual transportation bid processes, including negotiation and contract management, to secure competitive pricing and service levels.
• Provide training and guidance to stakeholders on domestic and global freight strategies.
• Analyze freight data to develop operating metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to create customized customer freight programs.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Operational Management, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in transportation, warehousing, or manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-phase, cross-functional transportation projects.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and analytical tools.
• Knowledge of tariff rating and carrier contract negotiation practices.

Preferred

• 5+ years of experience in transportation, distribution, or operations management.
• Proven success in leading teams and managing transportation networks at scale.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
• Strong leadership to motivate, coach, and develop team members.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency in transportation management systems and carrier negotiations.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.