This position manages and coordinates the fleet of commercial trucks and trailers for our field harvesting operations, ensuring optimal load efficiency, safety compliance, and smooth transitions for improved cost efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Fleet management:
  • Oversee the daily utilization of the company’s commercial fleet of trucks, trailers and outside haulers, ensuring loads are delivered safely, on time and within budget.
• Transportation planning:
  • Develop and implement transportation budget, analyzing expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Responsible for coordinating, overseeing, strategizing, and implementing the transition to Huron/Oxnard/Yuma/Coachella Valley, as well as the subsequent return to the Salinas Valley.
• Lead a team of 15 truck drivers. Supervise, train, and mentor drivers, providing guidance on safe driving practices and company policies. Conduct performance evaluations, provide feedback, and implement corrective actions, when necessary, with the Operations Manager.
• Effectively collaborate and communicate with all department supervisors on transportation needs.
• Working with the shop manager and operations manager, ensure all documentation related to transportation, including permits and licenses, is current and accurate.
• Collaborate with the maintenance shop department on equipment preventative maintenance programs, including required BIT inspections schedule.
• Monitor and manage fleet maintenance and ensure vehicles comply with safety standards.
• Handle driver scheduling and time off requests in ADP and effectively resolve conflicts or issues as they arise.
• Ensure all drivers comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, including Hours of Service (HOS) and drug testing.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of vehicle inspections and driver logs.
• Manage maintenance and servicing schedules to minimize downtime.
• Promote a safety culture by conducting safety meetings and implementing safety protocols to ensure the team is well trained in the latest safety procedures and following established protocols.
• Utilize and maintain our Fleet Management System to accordingly track relevant information: prepare and analyze reports on fleet performance, fuel consumption, and delivery times; develop and maintain fuel usage program for commercial trucks.
• Manage and find cost-saving opportunities within the department through Samsara Technology.
• Oversee the effective utilization of company GPS tracking software and reports.
• Understand and enforce all relevant regulations, including those from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and state-specific laws.
• Drive between coordination duties, holding a Class A license, and maintaining insurability.
• Ensure product is transported from field to cooler following customer’s policies.
• Periodically perform truck driver duties (less than 30% of time).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements and Qualifications:

• Proven experience with optimizing the movement of agricultural products and supplies. High School Diploma or an equivalent preferred. May require continuing education in transportation, safety, and other job-related areas.
• Proven experience in developing transportation strategies, experience overseeing and maintaining a fleet of commercial trucks and trailers.
• Advance knowledge in California Advanced knowledge in California (CHP) and Federal DOT compliance regulations, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
• Experience in coordinating and implementing large-scale transitions.
• Experience in budget development and management.
• Experience with GPS fleet tracking systems.
• Analytical skills for expense analysis and cost-saving identification.
• Proficiency in creating transportation metrics reports.
• Ability to travel or relocate to the Coachella Valley and our other harvesting regions during different seasons.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills with personnel management
• Bi literate in English and Spanish is preferred. The ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish and English without assistance is preferred.
• Valid Commercial California Driver’s License, class A and be insurable.
• Discreet handling of all business and employee matters (maintaining confidentiality at all levels is necessary).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong communication skills.
• Able to work well under pressure and meet various deadlines.
• Must be exceptionally well organized and able to multitask.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple teams and departments.
• Familiarity with safety protocols and training processes.