Graham Packaging is a people, planet and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. From the kitchen to the laundry room, Graham Packaging is part of your everyday life.

For employees at Graham, our Blue Culture is part of their everyday lives, too. In other words, Blue is how we do things here.

At Graham, we are united by a clear vision. We know our part and help those around us know theirs, encouraging one another to continuously improve. We create a safe, challenging environment to innovate by supporting creative ideas and new ways of thinking. We take the initiative to cultivate our individual growth and help others do the same, while keeping ourselves and one another accountable. And we actively promote cooperation, collaboration, integrity and respect across regions and teams to foster an engaged, diverse and connected workforce.

We value our employees, and a Blue Culture allows for the most rewarding employee experience as part of the Graham family. Blue is how we feel about what we do—together—to create a better tomorrow. Working at Graham means you lead constructively with clear goals, use diverse thinking to drive excellence, accountability, innovation, as well as demonstrating collaboration, embracing learning, and taking action for continuous improvement and growth.

We are seeking a hands-on, operations-focused Transportation Manager to serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for all transportation activities within the business. This role is not just about oversight—it’s about action. The ideal candidate thrives in the field, actively engaging with drivers, resolving real-time issues, and driving measurable improvements. As a key operational leader, this role combines daily execution, frontline troubleshooting, and cross-functional influence to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation of goods.

Key Responsibilities:

 

Daily Execution & Hands-On Leadership

• Actively manage day-to-day transportation operations from the ground—ride-alongs, dock walkthroughs, and dispatch desk time included.
• Serve as the go-to SME for driver questions, equipment concerns, and routing challenges.
• Lead from the front by coaching in real time, providing feedback, and jumping in to assist during peak periods or crisis moments.

Route Optimization & Tactical Planning

• Own and refine route structures to improve on-time delivery, fuel efficiency, and service reliability.
• Use GPS and TMS tools to validate route performance and make adjustments based on traffic, weather, or volume fluctuations.
• Partner with Plant Leadership to make minute-by-minute decisions when issues arise.

Compliance, Safety & Risk Control

• Personally inspect fleet readiness, safety equipment, and driver logs on a routine basis.
• Lead safety briefings and be present for post-incident assessments and corrective coaching.
• Maintain ownership of DOT/FMCSA compliance for training and audits. Developing processes and best standards. 

Metrics Ownership & Budget Involvement

• Be accountable for cost-per-load, delivery accuracy, and service level KPIs—identify root causes when metrics fall short and fix them fast.
• Provide real-time reporting to leadership and proactively escalate issues impacting financial or operational goals.
• Track labor, fuel, and maintenance expenses and help identify areas to reduce waste or overtime.

Team Development & Operational SME

• Mentor others and share expertise to strengthen operational knowledge and build future capability.
• Champion the use of systems, standard operating procedures, and best practices across the fleet.
• Lead process improvements and collaborate with warehouse, maintenance, and shipping clerk to streamline end-to-end delivery.

Qualifications:

• Deep understanding of DOT/FMCSA compliance, HOS, and transportation best practices.
• Direct experience in routing, dispatch, and hands-on operations management.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills—able to influence in the yard, on the road, and at the leadership level.
• Proficient in TMS platforms, GPS systems, and Microsoft Excel; able to use data for real-time decisions.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Supply Chain, or related field preferred; equivalent field experience considered.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive transportation or fleet leadership experience, with direct supervision of drivers and dispatch operations.
• CDL or commercial driving experience is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a tactical problem-solver and respected leader in a fast-paced environment

The expected salary range for the position described in this posting is made in accordance with the legal mandates of certain jurisdictions within the United States. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual qualifications and experience.

The standard compensation for this role is $94,600 - 141,900. Salary offers will be determined based on final candidate qualifications, experience, skillset, and other relevant factors.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees are able to enroll in the company’s 401K Employee Saving Plan and may participate in its Employee Wellness Program. Employees will also receive paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

Graham Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.