Heavy Haul Operations Manager

Location: Jacksonville, FL – Onsite

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Heavy Haul Operations Manager to lead day-to-day heavy haul transportation operations and oversee a team responsible for executing complex and specialized freight movements.

True heavy haul transportation experience is required for this position. Candidates should have direct experience managing oversized and/or overweight freight, coordinating specialized equipment and carriers, and navigating the operational and compliance requirements associated with heavy haul transportation.

This is an operations leadership position and does not involve sales or commission-based responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily heavy haul transportation operations, ensuring loads are planned, dispatched, and executed safely and efficiently.

• Manage and support an operations team of approximately 12–15 employees, with roughly 8 direct reports depending on organizational structure.

• Provide leadership, coaching, training, and performance management to operations and dispatch personnel.

• Coordinate the movement of oversized, overweight, and specialized freight.

• Ensure appropriate capacity, equipment, carriers, permits, routing, and operational resources are available for each project.

• Monitor active shipments and proactively resolve service issues, delays, equipment challenges, routing concerns, and other operational exceptions.

• Ensure dispatch information, load details, carrier information, and shipment updates are accurately maintained within the TMS.

• Develop, implement, and reinforce operational processes and SOPs.

• Monitor operational KPIs, service levels, productivity, and overall team performance.

• Ensure compliance with applicable DOT, permitting, safety, routing, and transportation regulations.

• Partner with project management, customer service, leadership, carriers, drivers, and other departments to ensure successful load execution.

• Assist with capacity planning and carrier/vendor relationship management.

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, accuracy, service quality, and team performance.

• Escalate and resolve complex operational issues involving high-value or specialized freight.

Required Qualifications

• Direct, hands-on Heavy Haul transportation experience is required.

• Experience managing or coordinating oversized and/or overweight freight movements.

• Strong understanding of heavy haul operations, including specialized equipment, permitting, routing, escorts/pilot cars, and load requirements.

• Previous transportation operations leadership or management experience.

• Experience managing, coaching, and developing an operations or dispatch team.

• Strong knowledge of transportation regulations and operational compliance.

• Experience working with transportation management systems (TMS).

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced transportation environment.

• Ability to manage multiple active shipments, priorities, and operational challenges simultaneously.

• Strong communication skills with drivers, carriers, customers, vendors, and internal teams.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting salary of approximately $80,000, with potential flexibility for candidates with exceptional heavy haul experience.

• Annual performance-based bonus.

• Annual merit increase opportunity.

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision options.

• Additional employer-sponsored benefits available.

Benefits and carriers are subject to annual plan updates.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on transportation leader who understands that heavy haul requires significantly more planning and coordination than standard truckload freight. This individual should be comfortable managing specialized loads, working through permitting and routing requirements, coordinating equipment and capacity, leading dispatch/operations personnel, and solving problems in real time.

Candidates without direct Heavy Haul experience will not be considered.

Ascendo is a certified minority owned staffing firm, and we welcome and celebrate diversity. Ascendo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Contact information

Amy Smith