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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Transportation Analyst

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

LogisticsSupply ChainData AnalysisTransportation

🎯 Role Definition

A Transportation Analyst is the analytical engine of the logistics department. This professional is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting transportation data to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service levels. At its core, the role involves scrutinizing freight rates, carrier performance, and network routes to identify opportunities for optimization. This individual acts as a critical link between operational teams, carriers, and management, providing data-driven insights that shape strategic transportation decisions and ensure the smooth, cost-effective flow of goods through the supply chain.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Coordinator
  • Supply Chain Intern / Co-op
  • Junior Data Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Senior Transportation Analyst
  • Logistics Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Procurement Analyst
  • Operations Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze and monitor freight costs, carrier performance, and service levels to identify trends, anomalies, and areas for improvement.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboards and reports for transportation activities, including on-time performance, cost-per-shipment, and carrier capacity.
  • Conduct regular freight bill audits to ensure accuracy of charges, identify billing discrepancies, and manage the claims process for overcharges and damages.
  • Utilize Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to plan, execute, and track shipments, ensuring optimal mode selection (LTL, FTL, Parcel, Intermodal) and carrier assignment.
  • Lead or support carrier sourcing events, including RFPs/RFQs, by preparing bid packages, analyzing carrier proposals, and providing data-driven recommendations.
  • Negotiate freight rates and service level agreements (SLAs) with carriers, fostering strong partnerships to secure capacity and drive cost-effective solutions.
  • Perform complex network modeling and "what-if" scenario analysis to evaluate the impact of changes in distribution centers, shipping lanes, or carrier mixes.
  • Collaborate with procurement, warehousing, and customer service teams to align transportation strategies with broader supply chain and business objectives.
  • Identify and implement process improvements within the logistics function to enhance operational efficiency, reduce transit times, and minimize administrative overhead.
  • Maintain and update routing guides and carrier master data within the TMS and ERP systems to ensure all stakeholders are using current, accurate information.
  • Track and report on fuel surcharges, accessorial charges, and other variable transportation costs, developing strategies to mitigate their financial impact.
  • Provide analytical support for budgeting and forecasting transportation spend, explaining variances between actual costs and planned expenditures.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on transportation industry trends, regulations (e.g., DOT, Hours of Service), and new technologies that could benefit the organization.
  • Manage the data integrity of all transportation-related information, ensuring data from carriers, 3PLs, and internal systems is clean, consistent, and reliable.
  • Develop and present findings and recommendations to senior leadership, translating complex data into clear, actionable business insights.
  • Investigate and resolve transportation service failures, performing root cause analysis to prevent future occurrences and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Support the implementation and configuration of new logistics technologies, including TMS upgrades, visibility platforms, and analytical tools.
  • Monitor and ensure carrier compliance with all company policies, safety standards, and contractual obligations.
  • Evaluate and recommend optimal packaging and load consolidation strategies to maximize cube utilization and reduce per-unit shipping costs.
  • Prepare detailed monthly and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) for key carriers, highlighting performance metrics and areas for collaborative improvement.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from various business stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data strategy and roadmap, particularly in the supply chain domain.
  • Collaborate with IT and business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for data warehousing and reporting.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if working within an agile data or logistics team.
  • Mentor junior team members or coordinators on data analysis best practices and TMS utilization.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced MS Excel: High-level proficiency, including complex formulas, pivot tables, Power Query, VLOOKUP/INDEX(MATCH), and data modeling.
  • Transportation Management Systems (TMS): Strong experience with enterprise-level TMS platforms such as Oracle TM, Blue Yonder, SAP TM, or MercuryGate.
  • Data Querying (SQL): Competency in writing SQL queries to extract, join, and manipulate large datasets from relational databases for analysis.
  • Data Visualization: Experience creating interactive dashboards and compelling reports using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik Sense.
  • Transportation Mode Expertise: In-depth knowledge of various transportation modes (LTL, FTL, Parcel, Ocean, Air) and their associated pricing structures and regulations.
  • Freight Auditing: Familiarity with freight bill audit and payment (FBAP) processes, variance analysis, and claims management.
  • Supply Chain Modeling: Understanding of supply chain network design principles and experience with optimization or simulation tools is a plus.
  • ERP System Knowledge: Working knowledge of ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and how they integrate with logistics functions.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset: A natural ability to dissect complex problems, see the big picture, identify root causes, and develop practical, data-driven solutions.
  • Exceptional Communication: The skill to articulate complex analytical findings clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
  • Strong Negotiation & Influencing Skills: Confidence and capability in negotiating with external partners (carriers) and influencing internal stakeholders to adopt new processes or strategies.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A commitment to data accuracy and process integrity, ensuring that reports are reliable and decisions are based on sound information.
  • Collaborative Team Player: The ability to work effectively across different departments (e.g., warehouse, sales, finance) to achieve common logistics goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s Degree or a professional certification such as APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) or Certified in Transportation and Logistics (CTL).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics
  • Business Administration / Finance
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Data Analytics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of direct experience in a transportation, logistics, or supply chain analysis role.

Preferred:

  • Experience in a high-volume manufacturing, CPG, or retail distribution environment.
  • Demonstrable experience with carrier negotiations and managing the RFQ/RFP process.
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