Outbound Freight Manager

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:

1. Don’t tolerate unsafe acts
2. Identify and fix unsafe conditions
3. Report EVERY incident
4. Conduct accident investigations
5. Communicate with HR about incidents and subsequent investigations
6. WALK THE TALK

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.