Assistant Manager, Transportation in Dearborn, Michigan at Cedar Crest Dairy

About Cedar Crest Dairy

Brothers Rob and Rick Becker purchased Cedar Crest Farms in 1978. At the time, the business included one small truck and a few customers. Over the years, the business has expanded to serve grocery and convenience stores, ice cream shops, and schools. Today, Rob's three children are part of the family business to help continue Rob's vision for Cedar Crest. For 40 years, Cedar Crest has continued to be a local, family run, West Michigan company.

About the role

The Assistant Transportation Manager supports the Director of Transportation by overseeing the day-to-day performance, safety, and execution of delivery routes within their assigned region (East or West Michigan).

This role is heavily focused on driver oversight, coaching, training, and safety compliance, ensuring routes are executed efficiently and in alignment with Cedar Crest Dairy’s service and safety standards. This is a hands-on leadership role that works closely with drivers in the field to reinforce expectations and drive continuous improvement.

What you'll do

Driver Oversight & Performance Management

• Supervise and support Route Salesmen/Drivers within assigned region.
• Monitor daily route execution to ensure on-time, accurate deliveries.
• Conduct regular ride-alongs to evaluate driver performance and reinforce expectations.
• Address performance concerns including attendance, productivity, and service levels.
• Partner with the Director of Transportation and HR on performance management and corrective action.

Safety Leadership & Compliance

• Enforce safety policies and expectations in daily operations.
• Utilize Samsara data and coaching tools provided by the Safety & Compliance Coordinator.

• Partner with the Safety & Compliance Coordinator on:
• • Driver coaching plans
  • Follow-up training
  • Incident response
• Maintain direct accountability for driver behavior and compliance in their region.

Coaching, Training & Development

• Train new drivers on routes, safety standards, delivery procedures, and customer expectations.
• Provide ongoing coaching to improve driver efficiency, safety, and customer service.
• Reinforce proper product handling and delivery best practices.
• Identify development opportunities and recommend improvements.

Routing & Daily Operations Support

• Support the Director in maintaining efficient routing and route coverage.
• Assist with daily dispatch needs, including call-offs and route adjustments.
• Help coordinate special deliveries and resolve day-of delivery issues.
• Communicate route updates and expectations clearly to drivers.
• Customer Service & Issue Resolution

• Address and resolve delivery-related issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Support drivers in maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Ensure service expectations are consistently met across all routes.

Communication & Coordination

• Serve as a key link between drivers, dispatch, warehouse, and leadership.
• Ensure clear and consistent communication across teams to support daily operations.
• Help eliminate operational silos by reinforcing teamwork and accountability.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Track driver performance metrics, including:
• • Safety scores (Samsara)
  • On-time delivery
  • Route completion
• Provide regular updates and insights to the Director of Transportation.
• Identify trends and escalate concerns proactively.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in business or related field preferred.
• 2–5 years of experience in transportation, distribution, or delivery operations.
• Previous experience supervising or leading drivers preferred.
• Experience in a Direct Store Delivery (DSD) environment is a plus.
• Working knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and OSHA regulations.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills with a hands-on approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel and Word).
• Experience with routing software and telematics systems (Samsara preferred).