Transportation Coordinator at TH Foods, Inc. – Loves Park, Illinois

Position Summary: The Transportation Coordinator is responsible for sourcing, coordinating, and managing freight carriers to support the timely and cost-effective delivery of finished goods and inbound raw materials for our food manufacturing operations. This role ensures transportation capacity, compliance, and service performance while building strong relationships with carrier partners to meet business needs.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, proactive, and experienced in freight logistics within a fast-paced manufacturing or food distribution environment.

Essential Duties and Requirements:

Carrier Sourcing & Freight Procurement

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard qualified freight carriers (truckload, LTL, refrigerated, intermodal as needed).
• Negotiate rates, service agreements, and capacity commitments to support shipping requirements.
• Maintain an approved carrier network that meets safety, insurance, and food-grade compliance standards.

Transportation Coordination & Execution

• Establish routing guides with primary and secondary carriers for inbound/outbound shipments.
• Schedule and coordinate outbound and inbound shipments to ensure on-time pickup and delivery.
• Manage daily freight tendering, load tracking, and carrier communications.
• Resolve transportation issues including delays, shortages, and service disruptions.

Carrier Performance & Relationship Management

• Monitor carrier performance metrics (on-time delivery, claims, service levels).
• Conduct regular carrier reviews and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Build strong partnerships to ensure reliable capacity during peak demand periods.

Cost Control & Continuous Improvement

• Track freight spend and identify opportunities for cost savings and route optimization.
• Support logistics process improvements and transportation strategy initiatives.
• Assist with freight audits, accessorial charge review, and dispute resolution.
• Investigating shipment discrepancies, filing formal freight claims, and collaborating with QA to minimize waste

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure shipments comply with food safety regulations, DOT requirements, and company policies.
• Maintain accurate transportation records, bills of lading, and carrier documentation.
• Support internal and external audits related to transportation operations.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role has no direct reports

Education and/or Experience

Required

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Import/Export management, partnering with Customs Brokerage
• 2+ years of experience in transportation coordination, freight brokerage, or carrier management.
• Knowledge of domestic freight markets, carrier sourcing, and logistics operations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and transportation management systems (TMS).
• Carrier relationship management
• Freight procurement and negotiation
• Problem solving under tight deadlines
• Attention to detail and follow-through
• Strong customer service mindset

Preferred

• Familiarity with FSMA, HACCP, and food-grade transportation standards.
• Ability to analyze freight data and performance trends.

Physical Ability and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

Work environment: This role operates in a fast-paced manufacturing and distribution environment and may require flexibility to support off-hours shipments or urgent transportation needs.

Time will be spent between corporate office and warehouse environments.

The Expected pay rate for this position is $70,000 annually.