Director of Project Logistics

About Serve Freight

Serve Freight is a U.S.-based freight brokerage specializing in complex, time-sensitive freight that requires detailed coordination. Its project logistics branch, ServeProjects, manages heavy haul, breakbulk, and multi-stop industrial freight, offering customers a single accountable point from cargo confirmation to final proof of delivery (POD).

Role Overview

The Director of Project Logistics leads ServeProjects comprehensively. This includes originating business, pricing, sequencing, and overseeing field operations. The role also involves creating the technical infrastructure beneath the operations, including pricing strategies, a visibility platform, permit protocols, carrier relationships, and vertical market expertise.

This senior, hands-on position requires frequent communication with shippers, state permit offices, and presence at yards and ports. The director builds tools enabling repeatable heavy haul processes. Reporting is directly to the company's founder.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and secure complex project logistics opportunities involving heavy haul, breakbulk, and multimodal freight.
• Lead pricing and solution strategies for RGN, multi-axle, and oversize moves with detailed, customer-friendly rate breakdowns.
• Manage opportunities from initial contact through contract award to execution.
• Maintain direct relationships with shippers, especially in data center, energy, oil and gas, and industrial sectors.
• Select appropriate transportation modes (truck, rail, barge) and carriers for shipments.
• Handle routing, permit, and escort coordination to ensure timelines, cost targets, and equipment safety.
• Administer state permits, bridge reviews, and police escort logistics, identifying states that cause delays or problematic providers.
• Manage crane and material handling decisions during loading and unloading.
• Attend onsite locations such as ports, yards, and customer facilities as operational needs demand.
• Develop the ServeProjects visibility platform to track milestones critical to project shippers, including confirmations, scheduling, permits, photos, updates, delivery POD, and invoicing.
• Create internal heavy haul tools to automate permits, routing, and quoting processes.
• Establish a pricing methodology based on line-item quote trends to improve speed and accuracy over time.
• Build and manage relationships with carriers, permit/escort companies, crane operators, and breakbulk terminals.
• Monitor breakbulk port activity and seasonal pricing to inform capacity and pricing decisions.
• Stay updated with state permit offices to anticipate customer needs proactively.
• Mentor and develop project logistics staff to build expertise within Serve Freight.
• Document operational standards and best practices.
• Identify and offer value-added services such as cargo insurance, warehousing, cranes, and multimodal transfers.
• Conduct post-project customer reviews to convert one-time moves into ongoing business programs.

Success Metrics at One Year

• Expansion and improvement of the ServeProjects sales pipeline, largely driven by the director.
• Winning complex heavy haul projects previously declined due to technical barriers.
• Deployment of a customer-used visibility platform.
• Implementation of pricing frameworks and carrier networks usable independently by the team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years working in project logistics, heavy haul, or breakbulk freight execution.
• Thorough understanding of trailer types and equipment impact on loads, including RGN, extendable RGN, multi-axle, Conestoga, lowboy, and step-deck trailers.
• Proven hands-on experience with state permits, bridge assessments, police escorts, and route surveys across numerous states.
• Established network of heavy haul carriers, permit/escort companies, and crane operators.
• Comfortable making mode decisions involving rail, barge, and trucking.
• Demonstrable origination skills, either managing a book of business or crafting deals within a larger team.
• Ability to work effectively in multiple environments: ports, yards, truck cabs, and shippers' procurement meetings.
• Experience using transportation management systems, Turvo preferred.

Preferred Background

• Experience with breakbulk port operations at major hubs like Houston, Savannah, Charleston, Mobile, New Orleans, or Baltimore.
• Knowledge of customs, warehousing, or freight forwarding complementary to trucking.
• Specialized vertical experience in data center, energy, oil and gas, or industrial construction sectors.
• Involvement in building or specifying logistics technology such as TMS workflows, permit automation, or visibility platforms.
• Familiarity with project management tools.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experienced heavy haul operator committed to growing a logistics division beyond routine load management.
• Capable of pricing complex moves and developing standard operating procedures swiftly.
• Proactive problem-solver who identifies and addresses process gaps autonomously.
• Direct and decisive communicator, adept at enforcing high standards with carriers, shippers, and internal teams.
• Physically able and willing to wear PPE, climb trailers, and perform site visits as needed.

Work Locations

This position is open for hybrid or on-site work in Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; Asheville, NC; or hybrid/remote in Houston, TX; Baltimore, MD; Savannah, GA; New Orleans, LA; Jacksonville, FL; Wilmington, NC. Candidates located near major ports or breakbulk hubs are preferred.

Compensation

The role offers a competitive base salary plus performance bonuses linked to ServeProjects' growth and profitability. Salary details are discussed during the interview process.