Transportation Manager in Des Moines, Iowa at Passel Farms

Position Summary

The Transportation Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of Passel Farms' entire vehicle fleet, spanning a 40-unit DOT-regulated tractor-trailer fleet (live haul and feed haul) and a 100-vehicle light-fleet used for field and site service across the company's reproductive sites, grow-finish barns, feed mills, and support operations. This role owns FMCSA/DOT regulatory compliance, driver and dispatcher management, fleet maintenance oversight, safety technology programs (including the current Motive AI dashcam rollout), and fleet-related cost and performance reporting. The Transportation Manager works cross-functionally with Production, Safety/HR, and Procurement to ensure livestock and feed move on schedule while protecting animal welfare, biosecurity, and driver and public safety.

Key Responsibilities

DOT / FMCSA Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain the company's USDOT/MC operating authority, safety rating, and CSA/SMS BASIC scores
• Own and audit Driver Qualification (DQ) files: medical certifications, MVRs, background checks, road tests, and annual reviews
• Administer Hours of Service (HOS) policy and ELD compliance across the DOT fleet
• Run the DOT drug and alcohol testing program (pre-employment, random pool, post-accident, reasonable suspicion) per FMCSA Part 382
• Manage IFTA/IRP fuel tax reporting and interstate vehicle registration
• Ensure annual DOT vehicle inspections, preventive maintenance (PM) compliance, and CVSA out-of-service tracking
• Serve as primary point of contact for DOT audits, safety reviews, and roadside inspection follow-up

DOT Fleet Operations (Live Haul & Feed Haul)

• Direct daily scheduling and routing of live haul and feed haul loads in coordination with Production and the feed mill
• Enforce trailer sanitation and biosecurity protocols, including coordination with the truck wash
• Monitor DOA (dead-on-arrival) and Slow rate performance trends; drive corrective action with carriers, crews, and drivers
• Manage preventive maintenance scheduling, breakdown response, and backup unit availability to avoid load disruptions

Light Fleet Management (100 Vehicles)

• Oversee vehicle assignment, replacement cycles, and lifecycle budgeting for the light-fleet
• Administer the light-fleet telematics/AI dashcam program (currently Motive): event trigger configuration, video review workflow, and driver coaching based on flagged events
• Lead driver communication and change management around in-cab monitoring, including addressing privacy concerns and maintaining policy clarity
• Manage fuel card administration, mileage tracking, and non-CDL driver MVR/insurance requirements

Safety & Risk Management

• Lead accident and incident investigation, reporting, and root-cause corrective action across both fleets
• Partner with Safety/HR on transportation-related OSHA recordables and injury trend reporting
• Serve as liaison to fleet insurance carriers for policy renewals, claims, and loss-run reviews
• Design and deliver ongoing driver safety training and disciplinary/corrective action processes

Personnel Leadership

• Own hiring, onboarding, and qualification of driver roles in partnership with HR
• Manage performance reviews and corrective action related to safety and compliance violations

Reporting & Budget

• Deliver fleet cost reporting (fuel, maintenance, insurance, cost-per-mile) to leadership
• Own capital planning and budget forecasting for fleet replacement and technology investments
• Maintain KPI dashboards for DOA/Slow rates, safety metrics, and on-time load performance
• Own departmental B2A results

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain, agribusiness, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of fleet or transportation management experience, including direct DOT/FMCSA regulatory responsibility
• Working knowledge of Hours of Service, Driver Qualification file requirements, and DOT drug & alcohol testing rules
• Experience administering ELD/telematics platforms
• Experience managing a telematics or camera system rollout, including driver adoption and change management
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel across Iowa production sites

Preferred

• Experience in livestock transportation, live haul logistics, or animal welfare-sensitive operations
• Familiarity with Iowa DOT permitting and IRP base-state registration requirements
• Experience supervising CDL drivers and dispatch teams
• Familiarity with feed mill or agribusiness supply chain operations

Work Environment & Physical Demands Primarily an office-based role with regular travel to reproductive sites, grow-finish barns, feed mills, the truck wash, and warehouse locations. Occasional exposure to livestock facilities and outdoor conditions. May require occasional evening or weekend availability for load disruptions, accidents, or DOT audit response.