Carrier Procurement Representative

The Carrier Procurement Representative is responsible for sourcing and securing qualified motor carriers to support the efficient and profitable movement of customer freight for L&S Transport. This position focuses on developing and maintaining strong carrier relationships, negotiating competitive transportation rates, ensuring carrier compliance, and securing reliable capacity to meet customer needs. The role requires a proactive, solutions-focused individual with strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills who can effectively manage multiple shipments in a fast-paced environment while supporting customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and company profitability.

Essential Duties: All duties to be performed according to the established standard and in compliance with all company policies and procedures while maintaining regular, prompt attendance and availability to work outside standard business hours as needed:

• Carrier Sourcing and Development: Proactively identify, recruit, and establish relationships with qualified motor carriers through outbound calls, emails, and other sourcing methods to support current and future transportation needs.
• Carrier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with motor carriers to promote reliable service, consistent communication, and long-term business partnerships.
• Capacity Procurement: Secure carrier capacity for daily shipments, contracted lanes, and special projects while ensuring customer transportation requirements and delivery expectations are met.
• Rate Negotiation and Profitability: Negotiate competitive transportation rates with motor carriers while considering market conditions, service requirements, and shipment profitability.
• Carrier Compliance: Verify that motor carriers meet established company qualification, insurance, safety, and compliance requirements before assigning shipments.
• Market Awareness: Monitor transportation market conditions, carrier availability, and industry rate trends to support informed procurement decisions and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Shipment Coordination: Collaborate with internal sales, operations, and track-and-trace teams to ensure timely shipment execution, accurate information sharing, and effective coordination of customer freight.
• Problem-Solving and Issue Resolution: Proactively identify and address carrier-related challenges, including capacity shortages, service disruptions, and scheduling conflicts, while minimizing operational impacts.
• Transportation Management System (TMS): Accurately enter, maintain, and update carrier information, negotiated rates, shipment details, and supporting documentation within the company's transportation management system.
• Communication and Collaboration: Maintain timely, professional, and proactive communication with motor carriers and internal teams regarding shipment requirements, carrier availability, service expectations, and operational concerns.
• Operational Performance: Support established brokerage performance objectives through effective carrier procurement, competitive pricing, reliable service, and efficient management of assigned shipments.
• Primary Performance Measures: Number of shipments managed, purchased transportation costs, total gross margin profits and gross margin percentage, carrier compliance, service reliability.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential duties. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or related field preferred.
• Previous experience in customer service, sales, purchasing, or relationship management preferred.
• Transportation, freight brokerage, carrier sourcing, or rate negotiation experience preferred.

Language Ability

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build professional relationships with customers, carriers, and internal teams.
• Ability to effectively communicate transportation requirements, negotiate rates, and resolve concerns.

Math Ability

• Ability to calculate and analyze transportation rates, costs, margins, percentages, and profitability.
• Ability to interpret pricing, market trends, and financial data to support business decisions.

Reasoning Ability

• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities, exercise sound judgment, and work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Computer Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Ability to effectively utilize transportation management systems (TMS), carrier platforms, and other business technology while maintaining accurate records.

Benefit Package

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Company-Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Retirement with company match
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays