Transportation Economist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Why Join Our Team?

At GeneralProduce, delivering freshness is more than a promise — it’s our daily standard. From our stateoftheart Sacramento facility, we serve Northern & Central California, Western Nevada and Southern Oregon, and even export to the Pacific Rim and Asia.

As our Transportation Manager, you’ll lead the team that keeps this promise on the road: guiding drivers, optimizing operations and shaping how we deliver reliability, quality and service. Come join a company where your leadership makes a difference, and your efforts go from the warehouse dock to dinner tables and beyond.

• Quarterly Incentives
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Sick Leave, Holidays, and Vacation
• Employee Discount Program
• Employee Recognition and Events

Role Overview

The Transportation Manager is a critical member of the operations leadership team, accountable for aligning transportation and fleet capabilities with broader business objectives. This role goes well beyond day-to-day routing—it owns cost discipline, fleet strategy, labor optimization, regulatory compliance, and scalability.

This leader brings financial rigor to transportation decisions, applying cost-benefit analysis across fuel, maintenance, equipment utilization, labor, and leasing structures to keep the fleet lean, compliant, and profitable. The Transportation Manager also plays a central role in evaluating new business opportunities by modeling true cost-to-serve and determining whether growth opportunities are operationally and financially sustainable.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Own the strategic planning and execution of all transportation and logistics activities.
• Analyze vehicle operating costs, including fuel, maintenance, and utilization, to drive continuous cost optimization.
• Lead fleet procurement and lease negotiations with a focus on flexibility, risk mitigation, and fixed-cost reduction.
• Manage and optimize driver labor costs while balancing productivity, compliance, and a competitive labor market.
• Evaluate routes and delivery models to maximize efficiency, eliminate waste, and improve service levels.
• Model cost-to-serve scenarios for new customers, routes, or expansion opportunities using data on equipment, driver hours, and route density.
• Lead and develop transportation supervisors, routing/dispatch teams, and a diverse driver workforce.
• Ensure full compliance with DOT, FMCSA, CARB, IFTA, IRP, UCR, BIT, and other applicable regulations.
• Oversee accident investigations, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and coordination with brokers and insurance carriers.
• Manage fleet maintenance programs to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Review and approve fleet-related expenses and transportation budgets.
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert for transportation and logistics strategy.
   

Leadership Expectations

• Operate as a visible, accountable leader within Operations.
• Drive results through data, discipline, and decisive action.
• Balance service excellence with cost control—no silos, no guesswork.
• Lead with credibility across drivers, supervisors, peers, and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience leading a transportation or operations function.
• Strong command of supply chain, transportation economics, and logistics strategy.
• Proven experience managing budgets, labor costs, and fleet operations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and translate it into executable decisions.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local transportation regulations.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Produce or food distribution experience preferred, not required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) the time of hire.
• Must have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in accordance with DOT regulations, company policy, and insurance carrier standards, including no serious moving violations within the past 36 months.
• Must remain eligible to operate company vehicles at all times as a condition of employment.

Why This Role Matters

This position directly impacts profitability, customer service, safety, and growth. Success is measured not just by trucks rolling on time—but by smart decisions that scale the business responsibly.

Equal Employment Opportunity

General Produce is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, California, or local law.

Background Check 

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including California’s Fair Chance Act. 

Employment Relationship

Employment with General Produce is at-will. This job posting is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change based on business needs.