Job Description

Ready To Go Further?

Saia is a different kind of logistics and transportation company. We do things the right way. You‘ll see it in our commitment to our people, customers, and community. You‘ll feel it in the support you get on day one – from leadership and from your team. A job with Saia is packed with opportunity – from learning new skills and advancing to competitive compensation and great benefits. It's all here and it’s exactly what going further is all about.

Position Summary

The Director of Purchased Transportation directs the strategic planning, implementation, and daily execution of the company’s purchased transportation program. Leads carrier recruitment and qualification, negotiates contracts, manages costs, and monitors performance to optimize linehaul efficiency and ensure program success.

Major Tasks and Responsibilities

• Directs the overall purchased transportation strategy to align capacity, service performance, and cost efficiency with organizational goals.
• Develops and manages a high-performing carrier network by recruiting, qualifying, and negotiating commercial agreements with transportation providers.
• Oversees regulatory and safety compliance by verifying certifications, insurance coverage, safety ratings, and relevant Department of Transportation requirements.
• Measures and evaluates carrier performance using scorecards and key performance indicators, drives continuous improvement, and removes carriers when performance expectations are not met.
• Leads strategic planning for lane strategy and mode optimization, balancing truckload and rail utilization to support cost and service targets.
• Optimizes transportation cost through strategic routing, mode selection, and analysis of market and economic conditions.
• Manages program resources, including personnel, technology, and budget, to support operational effectiveness and program scalability.
• Leads, mentors, and develops the transportation team to build capability, accountability, and collaborative performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
• 10+ years of transportation management or planning experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, customer relationship management tools, project management, and contract negotiation and management.

Benefits

At Saia, your success is our success! That’s why we work hard to provide you with what you need to build an awesome career. We are committed to rewarding superior employee performance so that when you work hard, your achievements won’t go unnoticed.

Make Your Move

At Saia, our people are the reason we’ve been successful for over a century in the industry. Together, we’ve created a positive culture that’s driven by our core values – like dignity and respect, a customer-first approach, safety and more. With hundreds of terminals across the country and growing, we’re always looking for more collaborative and motivated individuals to join our team. So, if you’re ready to put your career on a solid path, let’s go further.

Saia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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