Sr Transportation Assistant in Trenton, South Carolina at Trenton, SC

Company Overview

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.

DESCRIPTION

The Sr Transportation Assistant at Costa Farms is a hands-on operational leader responsible for managing daily terminal operations, including dispatch, yard activities, driver scheduling, and fleet readiness. As part of the Transportation team, this role ensures the safe, efficient, and compliant movement of live nursery products while supporting seasonal business demands.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support daily terminal operations, including dispatch, yard flow, and driver coordination.
• Monitor driver schedules, routes, and performance to ensure timely and accurate deliveries.
• Utilize TMS, ERP, and routing systems to assist with order planning and execution.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) including on-time delivery, damage, and container recovery.
• Support compliance with DOT regulations and transportation safety standards.
• Promote safety protocols and maintain terminal cleanliness and readiness.
• Coordinate with fleet and maintenance teams to support equipment availability and preventative maintenance.
• Assist with recovery and inventory tracking of racks, pallets, and containers.
• Partner with logistics, growers, and internal teams to align transportation with seasonal demand.
• Attend meetings and support cross-functional operational planning.

Additional Responsibilities

• Availability for flexible schedule changes based on business needs (including but not limited to seasonal demand and additional hours outside of the regular work schedule, such as weekends, nights, and holidays).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather information or help as required.
• Perform additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• H High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree preferred.
• 2–4 years of experience in transportation, logistics, or terminal operations.
• Working knowledge of DOT regulations and safety standards.
• Experience using TMS, ERP, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to operate independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to diverse audiences.
• Superior organizational, self-motivation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively operate both independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work schedules as needed.

Physical Demands

• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects,

Work Environment:

The role involves utilizing standard office equipment, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, telephones, and other essential digital tools required for daily tasks.

• Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Environment: This position is primarily outdoors but may require occasional indoor work between locations for administrative tasks. Indoor duties may involve using computers and standard office equipment. Ability to work outdoors in fluctuating weather conditions, including exposure to sunlight, rain, wind, and temperature changes (hot, cold, rainy, windy). Tasks often involve manual labor or physical effort.

SKILLS

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to employees.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• High attention to detail with strong follow-through.
• Proven ability to drive results, ensure accountability, and adapt to changing operational needs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• critical thinking abilities, capable of identifying problems, evaluating options, and implementing practical solutions.
• Effective time management skills to complete tasks within deadlines and maintain productivity.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently.

COMPETENCIES

• Action Oriented
• Collaborates
• Decision Quality
• Ensures Accountability
• Plans and Aligns
• Situational Adaptability

All applicants must be work-authorized.

Costa Farms will not sponsor any visa for this position.

After applying, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on what’s happening around Costa Farms and to start becoming part of our family. Come Grow with Us™!

Costa Farms offers competitive wages and benefits, including:

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care
• Telemedicine/ Mental Health Services
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance (Aflac)
• Growth Opportunities
• Challenging and exciting work environment
• Costa Farms Scholarship
• Employee discounts on plants

Costa Farms headquarters also has:

• On-site gym with showers
• Subsidized on-site cafeteria, a quiet room, and indoor games
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year