Sr Transportation Analyst

Full job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust

Position Summary:

The Regional Transportation Analyst is responsible for the day-to-day facilitation and coordination of the corrugated division trucking distribution needs. This includes supporting area and divisional operations to identify opportunities for distribution cost saving, accumulating, and analyzing data to identify efficiencies. The Regional Transportation Analyst is also responsible for assessing, organizing, developing current and prospective carrier partners for compliance to provide optimal customer service balanced with cost efficiency. Administrative responsibilities in support of divisional demands are also core to the role.

Dimensions:

This position is responsible for working collaboratively with carriers and internal stakeholders to maintain required service levels at over 30 PCA manufacturing centers, regionally, in the most cost-effective manner possible. This includes the movement of over 28,500 truckloads annually at a total freight cost in excess of $90 million/ year. Overall, the entirety of the division supports in excess of 85,000 truckloads annually at a total freight cost in excess of $275 million/year.

Principle Accountabilities:

• Evaluating transportation or shipping needs by facility and assessing freight options to meet the division’s needs.

• Conduct ongoing review and assessment of operations to ensure service requirements. This includes preparing/ reviewing carrier service reports, and recommending corrective actions and gaining alignment from field management to resolve problems and increase service.
• Prepare and issue rate guides and schedules, determine carrier authority, insurance, and liability and assist in carrier identification, contract negotiation, and certification.
• Transportation Management System (TMS) Implementation & Management – receive, organize, validate, and upload rates on behalf of manufacturing facilities actively using the TMS.
• Deliver training programs to TMS users. Present ideas effectively, delivering presentations suited to the needs of the audience.
• Provide training, resources, and ongoing support of TMS to PCA locations.
• Frequent travel to PCA locations within assigned region to conduct TMS implementations, training and support.
• Create, modify, and produce reports from the company ERP and TMS to review and monitor shipments, against predetermined goals to recommend transportation solutions that ensure desired service levels.
• Streamline and organize maintenance of data and information in multiple transportation systems including truck carrier information, rates, contracts, mode, and unit count.
• Create departmental reports to provide performance and benchmarking summaries by carrier, mode, and facility.
• Stay up to date with current transportation issues and trends that affect PCA and our customers and inform strategies that support best practices.
• Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team, and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
• Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectations for customers. This includes supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Decision Making:

The Regional Transportation Analyst is expected to make day-to-day operating decisions to ensure that all service commitments are kept with all internal and external customers. This includes the authorization of non-routine methods of delivery and storage when it is in the best interest of PCA from a cost or customer service standpoint. This position requires a dedicated individual who is prepared to be available for problem resolution on a 24-hour, 7 day/week basis and can function effectively both inside and outside of the office support environment.

Interactions with Customers and Vendors:

The Regional Transportation Analyst has direct interaction with all internal and external customers to ensure that the level of service delivered either meets or exceeds the customer’s expectation. This position has the authority to make the economic decisions necessary to ensure that these expectations are met from a logistics point of view. The Transportation Analyst is responsible for developing the carrier network and continuously improving overall performance while driving out cost. Fostering and preserving strategic relationships with internal and external customers is also fundamental to influence operational initiatives and processes, while seeking efficiencies.

Position Requirements:

• Education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, logistics, supply chain, and/or transportation required.
• A minimum of 5 years previous work experience in a corporate logistics, supply chain, and/or transportation environment. Previous containerboard and/or corrugated packaging industry experience strongly preferred.
• Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations relating to transportation. Understanding of DOT and ICC guidelines and requirements preferred, but not a requirement.
• Solid negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to establish rates and transportation changes.
• Ability to work in a flexible, fast paced, deadline-oriented environment, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple projects and/or requests concurrently as the main point of contact 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
• Effective organizational skills with the ability to handle numerous details, deadlines, and requests.
• Strong listening, evaluating, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Ability to create alternative solutions and meet deadlines.
• Established working knowledge of computer systems including experience with Transportation Management Systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook. Experience with manufacturing systems and enterprise customer service management software a plus.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with individuals throughout the company on departmental procedures, policies, and requests for information.
• Well-developed interpersonal communication skills with the ability to network and build relationships with individuals of various experience and levels both within and outside of the company.
• Experience conducting training to a group with strong presentation, group facilitation, and public speaking skills, confidence in influencing, consulting, and partnering with various audiences.
• Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time and /or required as necessary and possess a valid U.S. driver’s license.