Rail Operations Manager Jobs in Elgin, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Intermodal Rail Operations Manager will serve as the critical strategic bridge between our Customer Account Management team and our Intermodal Execution / Drayage teams. In this role, your primary mandate is to eliminate operational friction and drive down intermodal operating costs. You will own all railroad schedule relationships across North America, drive rail technology integration, execute yard-pull and storage-prevention strategies, and audit accessorial spend. This position includes a performance-based variable compensation plan tied directly to your success in reducing average spend across rail ramp storage, per diem, yard pulls, and non-revenue dry runs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Railroad Network, Schedule & Transit Management

• Comprehensive Rail Oversight: Serve as the primary operational contact and schedule owner for all rail carrier relationships: UP, BNSF, CSX, NS, CN, CPKC, and FEC.

• Transit Strategy & Quoted Times: Establish, maintain, and publish accurate quoted transit times across all customer lanes serviced by intermodal.

• Scorecards & Performance Tracking: Track and report on monthly Railroad Performance Scorecards, measuring on-time service, line-haul reliability, dwell times, lane volume, and schedule changes.

Storage Mitigation, Real Estate & Execution Strategy

• Yard Pull & Pre-Staging Strategy: Develop and execute real estate and operational strategies for pre-pulling containers from rail terminals to local staging yards to systematically avoid high rail ramp storage tariffs. Includes mitigating asset ramp dwell time to maintain average dwell at 24 hours or less (each ramp).

• Non-Revenue & Dry Run Elimination: Optimize dispatch workflows with execution and customer service teams to eliminate preventable dry runs, canceled pulls, and improper container assignments.

• Storage & Per Diem Recovery: Lead the root-cause analysis and recovery process for all ramp storage and equipment per diem charges-ensuring accurate fee pass-through to responsible customers/carriers or successfully disputing railroad-caused charges.

Rail Technology & Visibility

• API & Data Integrations: Partner with internal IT to drive rail tech enhancements, including real-time transit APIs, direct tracking feeds, automated storage/demurrage reporting tools, and predictive dwell alerts.

• In-Transit Visibility: Ensure account managers and execution teams have automated, accurate status feeds (origin pull, ramped, line-haul updates, constructive placement, notification, and outgate).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Technical Mastery: Hands-on experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS), rail carrier portals/APIs (Railinc, ShipCSX, BNSF, UP, etc.), and advanced data tools (Excel, Power BI, SQL).

• Rail Network Expertise: In-depth knowledge of North American Class I & regional rail networks (UP, BNSF, CSX, NS, CN, CPKC, FEC) and terminal/ramp storage structures.

• Financial & Analytical Acumen: Strong capability to analyze accessorial line items, perform root-cause financial audits, and negotiate/dispute carrier storage charges.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or equivalent industry experience.

• Experience: 5+ years in intermodal transportation, rail terminal operations, or drayage management. Proven track record of cross-functional team coordination between account management and execution teams.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Seeing and hearing: Read documents, computer screen answer phones, 75-100 %
communicate in person.
Standing and walking. 0-24 %
Climbing, stooping, squatting and kneeling. 0-24 %
Dexterity: utilizing phone, typing, and writing. 75-100 %
Lift in excess of 10 pounds. 0-24 %

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