I got wind of this ad through the Yahoo message board for a company that I used to work for. I resigned from that company a year ago last January after a few meetings with the new CEO convinced me that I didn't want to stick around and work for or with him.
Check out this ad,which seems to be genuine. It appears to have already expired so it probably won't be around much longer and I'll cut and paste it in. The position is for a Transportation Broker, which may not mean much to most people. Imagine a company that does freight forwarding, which means they don't own their own trucks or planes or ships. In a typical freight forwarder, there are sales people who pitch to clients, customer service people who accept and begin processing shipments, operations people who subcontract out to actually move the freight, and accounting people who do invoicing etc. The smaller the company, the more those roles can overlap or one person handles more than one. This is ridiculous though:
Position Purpose
Negotiates and provides domestic rates and customer service for internal and external customers. Books and arranges pickup, stops, and delivery of loads. Perform documentation of shipments and specific customer account reporting. Build/consolidate loads, gather, research and document information from a variety of sources to prepare surface transportation documentation. Handles customer request/specifications in a timely manner. Performs tracking and tracing of shipments. Prepare labels, documents/shipping paperwork, and complete accurate files. Research, gather information, and follow up on the preparation and implementation of assigned Surface Transportation projects, reporting progress as scheduled. Represents Stonepath, calling upon customers, potential customers and self generated sources to generate truck brokerage business and to introduce the company surface transportation services, utilizing telephone and e-mail
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides superior customer service providing -customer service driven- interactions with all department contacts, both internal and external customers.
- Negotiates and secures domestic truck rates documenting rates and presenting in department approved format
- Provides account management services for specific customers, which includes but is not limited to rating, dispatching, and maintenance of status reports, and invoicing.
- Use a variety of reference materials and sources in order to expedite movement of freight in most cost effective manner.
- Prepare accurate logistic documents in a timely manner from source documents and personal research efforts. (checking for accuracy) taking responsibility for completeness, accuracy and timeliness of the transaction.
- Document quotation, booking, shipping, delivery, tracking, notification and billing.
- Communicate with shipper to assure that all information is accurate and timely.
- Maintain complete and accurate files for documentation and compliance purposes.
- Assemble and provide complete file of customer required documentation.
- Respond to customer inquiries in a timely manner. Provide timely shipment status updates to customer.
- Timely follow up on any issues including claims.
- Tracking and Tracing shipments from point of origin to final destination using a variety of tools, as directed by Surface Transportation Coordinator.
- Create required labels, printing final logs, forwarding P&L data to International Accounting.
- Dispatch of local pickups including confirmation of availability and processing of required paperwork for warehouse as directed by Surface Transportation Coordinator.
- Consult with Supervisor of Surface Transportation on all deviations from standard operating procedures or rate quotes.
- Responsible for assuring that account management services for specific assigned customers is provided, which includes but is not limited to rating, dispatching, and maintenance of status reports, and invoicing.
- Effectively builds consolidated loads and arranges for cost effective weight distribution, stop order, and use of distribution facilities.
- Completion of revenue sheets to ensure cost/benefit analysis has yielded the most beneficial load possible. Includes all applicable stop charges, selection of distribution facilities, fuel surcharges, or any other accessorial charges.
- Arranges for the dispatch of local pickups including confirmation of availability and processing of required paperwork for warehouse.
- Use of a variety of reference materials and sources in order to expedite movement of freight in most cost effective manner.
- Answers general tracing inquiries or questions from public and provides backup responses to phone calls for other members of the department who are away from their desk or on other lines.
- Provide services and pricing designed to build long-term customer relationships by building individual shipping solutions for each existing and potential customer.
- Proactively pursues sales through existing contacts, telemarketing, and relationship building.
- Properly appraise Director of surface transportation on sales activity, quotation activity, and potential areas of opportunity, or hindrance in customer relationship/service.
- Assist Director of Surface Transportation by taking on assigned projects, providing reports, research, implementation and follow up.
- Requires high level of professionalism, energy, attention to detail, ability to prioritize tasks and duties of different importance, and multi-tasking abilities.
- Supports and actively complies with the security duties and responsibilities described in the C-TPAT Security Program document which was received and signed for upon hire.
Job Requirements:
Qualifications
Education and/or Experience
2 to 6 years of domestic logistics administration experience.
Employee must have basic user knowledge of computer programs such as word, and, outlook.
Communication Skills
Ability to aggressively negotiate/communicate with carriers and interact both interdepartmentally and with outside sources to ensure that customer needs and company objectives are met.
Communicates through heavy phone contact as well as written correspondence, phone, e-mail, and fax to acquire information and to document actions.
Present self in a professional manner at client locations and be able to -close the sale-
Mathematical Skills
Basic mathematical ability including multiple computations to arrive at most beneficial choice of action. Currency conversions, %-s, weight and measure computations, Profit margin computations
Work Environment / Physical Environment
Employee must lift up to 30 lbs, sit for extended periods of time, stand, walk, reach above head for files, grasp, handle, and perform finger operations. Must operate normal office equipment such as phone, computer, fax machine, and copy machine.
Employee must be able to drive and present self at client locations in a professional manner.
Normal office environment
Employee travel will be minimal
And hey! Get me a cup of coffee in your spare time. Geez, there's so much to rip on here I'll just leave it in all its absurd glory.
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