Mgr. - Trans Account (Automotive Expedite)
Kenco Group · Chattanooga
At Kenco Logistics, you’re more than just a team member—you’re part of a company that values innovation, integrity, and a strong commitment to its people. As one of the leading 3PL providers in the U.S., Kenco offers a dynamic and supportive work environment where your ideas matter and your growth is a priority. With a focus on safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement, Kenco empowers employees to make a real impact in the supply chain industry while building rewarding careers. Join a company where your contributions help move the world forward—one shipment at a time.
About the Position
The Transportation Account Manager, Automotive Expedite is responsible for the daily management of a dedicated premium and expedited freight program for a global automotive Tier manufacturer operating across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This is a hands-on operating role within a small dedicated team. The person in this seat sources capacity, tenders loads, manages carriers, and builds cost recovery documentation directly, while also serving as the primary customer contact for program performance. The account handles approximately 25 to 30 expedited shipments per day across all modes, including domestic ground expedite, team and solo truck, hotshot, next-flight-out and charter air, international air and ocean, and cross-border Mexico.
Because production stoppage events do not follow business hours, this position will maintain a normal business hours schedule and will manage a team that works an extended coverage window of approximately 4:00 AM to 7:30 PM Eastern and participates in an after-hours escalation rotation for line-down emergencies.
Functions
- Serve as the primary point of contact for a dedicated automotive expedite customer, managing the relationship across corporate logistics, plant operations, and supplier-facing teams in three countries.
- Prepare routine reports for customers outlining carrier's performance and shipment activity; utilize data to look for opportunities to improve services provided, including key performance indicator results, repeat lane analysis, reason code trending, and identification of preventable premium freight with recommended corrective action.
- Actively manage applicable budgetary items; including but not limited to, freight claims with carriers, audit and payment of freight invoices, resolution of billing variances, support of consolidated customer billing, and accurate reconciliation of P&L.
- Provide work direction to team members assigned to the account and facilitate professional development of team members to improve bench strength, including development of documented standard operating procedures so program execution is not dependent on a single individual.
- Maintain fluid communications with internal and external stakeholders regarding established performance metrics and provide insight as needed; ensuring alignment with strategic directives.
- Manage the daily intake, validation, and execution of premium freight requests, ensuring every request is complete and properly authorized before freight is tendered. Enforce the customer's cost approval gate without exception.
- Source and secure capacity under emergency conditions across all modes, including expedited ground, team service, hotshot, next-flight-out and charter air, international air and ocean, and drayage. Return quoted routing options within committed response windows.
- Manage cross-border Mexico shipments end to end, including selection of carriers holding valid cross-border authority, coordination with customs brokers, oversight of commercial invoice and clearance documentation, and management of border crossing delay and recovery.
- Support just-in-time (JIT) and just-in-sequence (JIS) manufacturing requirements, understanding how inventory position, sequencing, and plant run rates determine the true delivery deadline on each shipment.
- Own line-down and production stoppage response. Act as the escalation point, drive the recovery plan, and communicate status to plant and executive stakeholders until the shipment is delivered.
- Manage carrier performance to committed on-time pickup and on-time delivery targets, and hold carriers accountable to pickup windows and transit commitments.
- Onboard and qualify carriers, including customer-designated providers, and supplement the network with additional capacity from Kenco divisions and affiliate partners as service and coverage require.
- Assign accurate cause and reason coding to every shipment and assemble chargeback documentation packages for supplier-caused and customer-caused events, supporting the customer's cost recovery program.
- Support phased customer and supplier portal rollout, including user onboarding and training.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Accounting, or Finance, or equivalent transportation management work experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of applicable experience within transportation management with at least 3 years directly managing expedited, premium, or emergency freight. General truckload or less-than-truckload brokerage experience alone will not meet this requirement.
- Strong PC skills and proficient with all Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel proficiency for analysis of cost and performance data. Power BI or comparable reporting experience preferred.
- Excellent communication and analytical skills with proven ability to follow up on issues under time pressure.
- Ability to work in a rapidly changing business environment and maintain composure during emergency escalations.
Competencies
- Business Acumen - Knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends, technology, and information affecting his/her business and organization.
- Communicate for Impact - Devoting the time and resources necessary to communicate the strategic vision, direction, priorities, and progress of the team for which you are responsible.
- Leading People - Ability to develop and implement strategies to maximize employee performance and foster employee engagement in meeting the organization's strategy.
- Managing Transitions / Change Management - Effectively plans, manages and communicates changes in processes with appropriate stakeholders.
- Relationship Management - Building and maintaining relationships with internal partners to successfully complete projects and organizational objectives.
- Strategic Agility - Gains perspective and balances the pressure between daily tasks and strategic actions that impact the long-term viability of the organization.
Travel Requirements
- This position is expected to travel approximately 25% or less, including travel to customer manufacturing sites in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- A valid passport is required.
Disclosures
- The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. Other duties may be assigned as needed. The physical demands and work environment described 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.
- Per company policy, all internal job postings expire 14 days from the date they are posted.
Benefits offered:
Medical insurance including HSA, HRA and FSA accounts
Supplemental insurance including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accidental injury
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Basic Life and Supplemental Life
Short Term and Long Term Disability
Paid Parental Leave
401(k)
Paid Time Off approximately 2 weeks (accrual begins on Day 1 of employment)
Employer Paid Holidays- 10 days
Kenco strives to provide a supportive, professional environment for all employees. As a part of Kenco, we expect our team to uphold our three key pillars: be honest, serve, and get better. Each should strive for operational excellence, pursue innovation, and want to grow with our company.
Kenco Group is an Equal-Opportunity Employer. All employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)