The Dedicated Fleet Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of a local asset-based fleet of 100+ drivers supporting manufacturing inbound transportation needs in a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation. This role leads driver operations, coordinates dispatch execution and equipment availability, and aligns fleet capacity with customer production schedules. The manager is accountable for safe, reliable service, driver engagement, staffing coverage, asset utilization, operating cost control, and continuous improvement. The position partners with customers, maintenance, safety, Human Resources, and internal leadership to resolve operational issues and maintain consistent execution across all shifts.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage daily operations for a local fleet of 100+ drivers, maintaining safe, reliable inbound transportation service for manufacturing customers across all shifts.
- Plan driver staffing, schedules, time-off coverage, and contingency resources to support a 24/7 operation and changes in production demand.
- Direct dispatch priorities and driver assignments to meet pickup schedules, transit times, and time-sensitive manufacturing requirements.
- Monitor shipments and service exceptions; coordinate recovery plans for delays, call-offs, equipment failures, and urgent requests to minimize production disruption.
- Balance driver capacity, tractors, trailers, and workload to improve asset utilization, reduce unproductive time, and maintain dependable coverage.
- Review fleet KPIs, including on-time pickup and delivery, driver availability, equipment utilization, overtime, and operating costs; implement corrective actions for gaps.
- Set clear driver expectations; provide coaching and recognition; and address attendance, conduct, and performance concerns with Human Resources and leadership.
- Partner with recruiting, safety, and training teams on driver hiring, onboarding, development, and retention; align staffing plans with operational needs.
- Ensure accurate, timely transportation records, system updates, delivery documentation, and driver time and payroll information; resolve discrepancies with support teams.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs, and replacement equipment with maintenance teams; ensure out-of-service or restricted assets are not assigned until cleared.
- Serve as the primary fleet operations contact for customers and internal partners, communicating service status, capacity constraints, and recovery actions promptly.
- Partner with safety and leadership to reinforce applicable transportation requirements and company policies, address unsafe conditions, and investigate incidents and service failures.
- Establish consistent shift-start communication, handoffs, and after-hours escalation coverage for open loads, staffing gaps, equipment restrictions, and customer concerns.
- Manage controllable fleet expenses, review cost and productivity trends, and improve standard work, route execution, service reliability, and customer satisfaction.
- Maintain contingency plans for peak demand and operational disruptions; coordinate cross-functional response and follow through on root causes and preventive actions
Required Qualifications:
- Experience in fleet operations, transportation, or logistics, including responsibility for driver supervision, dispatch coordination, and daily service execution.
- Demonstrated ability to lead a large driver workforce, manage staffing across multiple shifts, coach employees, and hold teams accountable to established expectations.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to coordinate effectively with drivers, dispatchers, manufacturing customers, maintenance, and leadership.
- Ability to prioritize competing demands, make timely operating decisions, and resolve service disruptions in a fast-paced, round-the-clock environment.
- Proficiency with standard computer applications and the ability to use transportation, dispatch, tracking, and fleet-management systems.
- Working knowledge of fleet safety practices and applicable transportation requirements, with the ability to analyze operating data, control costs, and maintain accurate records.
- Dependable attendance and schedule flexibility are required to support a 24/7 operation, including after-hours escalation response and work on alternate shifts, weekends, or holidays as business needs require
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience managing a dedicated local asset-based fleet of 100+ drivers or a comparably complex, multi-shift transportation operation.
- Experience using a Transportation Management System (TMS), Yard Management System (YMS), electronic logging or telematics tools, and fleet reporting systems.
- Experience with driver recruiting, onboarding, retention, workforce planning, performance coaching, and corrective-action processes.
- Experience managing fleet budgets and analyzing service, labor, equipment utilization, and cost trends to improve operating performance.
- Experience supporting manufacturing inbound transportation, just-in-time deliveries, or other production-sensitive customer operations
Job Details:
- Location: Normal, IL
- Shift: 1st shift | 7 AM - 4 PM
- Pay Range: $85,000-95,000/year
- Benefits: G&D offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, 401K with company match, company paid life insurance, paid time off and many other programs
Company Information:
G&D Integrated has a rich history that dates back to the early 1880s, when freight was delivered with horse-drawn wagons. In the hundred-plus years since, the members of the O’Neill family have been proudly serving Central Illinois with a variety of transportation, freight transfer and storage services. The long term success of the organization can be tied to our focus on three key components.
- PEOPLE Our success in delivering excellent service, is supported by our dedicated employees. Looking to the future, we will continue to attract and invest in developing our employees to meet the demands of the future.
- PROCESS We are a process driven company, with the ability to work around the requirements of our customer’s production systems, while developing our own standardization to deliver excellent service. Our success in this area is recognized by our continual achievement of client awards.
- TECHNOLOGY We leverage technology to enable our people to perform more effectively and to provide a competitive advantage for our customers.
