Operations Director Jobs in Manitoba (NOW HIRING)

About the Organization

Summit Search Group has been retained by Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. on the recruitment of a Director, Linehaul Operations. Incorporated in 1958 and now in its 68th year of continuous operation, Arnold Bros. Transport (ABT) is a multi-generational, family-owned and operated carrier headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Specializing in truckload highway transport and logistics management, ABT serves customers coast to coast in Canada and throughout the United States, moving full truckload general freight for a diverse customer base that spans Fortune 500 companies and rural small business operators alike.

ABT operates dry van, temperature-controlled, and refrigerated fleet capacity from its Winnipeg head office, with additional offices in Milton, Calgary, and Edmonton, and yard locations in Vancouver, Regina, Saskatoon, and Montreal. The company has built a strong reputation on reliable service, a driver-first culture, and meaningful investment in technology and equipment. ABT was named a 2024 SmartWay High Performer in the Carbon Reduction Metrics category, placing it among fewer than 10 percent of all SmartWay carriers, and was recognized as a Top Fleet Employer in 2025 by Trucking HR Canada. Dispatch operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, maintenance staff are on-call around the clock, and the company leverages ORBCOMM for trailer management and asset optimization, and ISAAC for fleet management, safety, and operational efficiency.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director, Linehaul Operations (DLO) is a newly created senior leadership role at ABT, designed to add a dedicated operational leadership layer to an organization running a 24/7 over-the-road linehaul network with approximately 465 drivers. This is not a turnaround mandate. ABT is performing well relative to industry peers in a challenging freight environment. The role exists to sharpen execution, build accountability, and bring dedicated senior focus to the day-to-day performance of the linehaul operation.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the DLO will lead four direct reports, including the Dispatch Manager, Customer Service Manager, Logistics Team Lead, and Planning Supervisor, with a combined team of approximately 27. This is a hands-on leadership role with a fair degree of operational autonomy, suited to a leader who is present, engaged, and trusted by the people they lead. ABT is looking for someone who brings genuine trucking industry experience alongside fresh outside perspective: someone who can challenge how things have always been done while respecting what a 68-year-old carrier has built and knows.

The culture at ABT is grounded in accountability, transparency, and a sincere commitment to driver welfare. The incoming DLO will be expected to reflect those values in every decision, building trust with frontline leaders and drivers through consistent follow-through, clear communication, and a genuine investment in the people they lead. The role is based full-time at the Winnipeg head office; no remote or hybrid arrangements are available.

Key Responsibilities

• Own 24/7 planning, dispatch, and operational execution of the linehaul network, ensuring freight moves safely, efficiently, and on time across ABT’s Canadian and cross-border network while maintaining strong customer service levels.
• Champion a driver-first culture built on respect, accountability, and communication; lead initiatives that improve driver engagement, onboarding, mentoring, recognition, and retention, and maintain regular direct contact with drivers to identify and remove operational barriers.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Dispatch, Planning, Customer Service, and Logistics leadership team through goal-setting, performance management, succession planning, and ongoing development, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage departmental budgets and cost performance; drive asset utilization and EBITDA through data-informed decision-making; establish and monitor KPIs covering service levels, utilization, deadhead, and driver productivity.
• Ensure compliance with transportation, safety, border, and regulatory requirements; partner with Sales on customer opportunities, quotations, and major RFP responses; resolve operational issues affecting customer performance with urgency and professionalism.
• Contribute as a member of the senior leadership team to corporate strategy, policy development, and cross-functional initiatives; identify automation, reporting, and technology opportunities that improve service, productivity, and profitability.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive transportation operations leadership experience with demonstrated success leading large operational teams in a carrier or linehaul environment; direct trucking industry experience is a non-negotiable requirement for this role.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performance operations teams in a 24/7 environment, with a leadership style that pairs genuine accountability with real investment in the growth and wellbeing of frontline staff and drivers.
• A driver-first mindset and the interpersonal credibility to build trust across all levels of an operation: with drivers, dispatch teams, frontline supervisors, and senior leadership alike.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, including experience managing operational budgets, tracking performance metrics, and driving cost efficiency and productivity improvements through disciplined, data-informed decision-making.
• Solid working knowledge of transportation regulations, fleet operations, and freight planning systems; familiarity with tools such as ORBCOMM or ISAAC is considered a meaningful asset.
• Post-secondary education in Business, Transportation, or a related field is preferred but is explicitly not a hard requirement; demonstrated operational results and industry experience will be weighted heavily over credentials.

For more information or to submit your resume, please reach out to Matt Erhard at Summit Search Group, matt.erhard@summitsearchgroup.com.

Summit Search Group has a strong commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. We strive for continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors and proactively managing bias throughout our process.