Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Vehicle Transport Specialist
💰 $45,000 - $75,000
LogisticsTransportationAutomotiveSupply Chain
🎯 Role Definition
The Vehicle Transport Specialist is responsible for coordinating, executing, and monitoring the safe and timely movement of vehicles between manufacturers, dealerships, ports, auctions, rental fleets, and end customers. This role ensures vehicles are transported efficiently while meeting quality, safety, regulatory, and customer service standards. The specialist acts as a key liaison between drivers, carriers, vendors, and internal stakeholders to support seamless automotive logistics operations.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Logistics Coordinator
- Automotive Operations Assistant
- Fleet Support Specialist
Advancement To:
- Senior Vehicle Transport Specialist
- Transportation Manager
- Fleet Operations Manager
Lateral Moves:
- Dispatch Supervisor
- Supply Chain Analyst
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Coordinate end-to-end vehicle transportation activities, including scheduling, dispatching, and tracking shipments across multiple locations.
- Manage relationships with third-party carriers, tow operators, and transport vendors to ensure service level agreements are met.
- Arrange vehicle pickups and deliveries for new, used, leased, rental, or auction vehicles.
- Monitor transit status and proactively resolve delays, damages, or delivery exceptions.
- Ensure vehicles are properly inspected, documented, and photographed prior to and upon delivery.
- Verify vehicle condition reports, bills of lading, and transport documentation for accuracy and completeness.
- Ensure compliance with DOT regulations, transportation laws, and company policies.
- Communicate delivery timelines, status updates, and issue resolutions to customers and internal teams.
- Coordinate loading and unloading processes to minimize damage and ensure safe handling.
- Track and manage transportation costs, carrier invoices, and billing discrepancies.
- Maintain accurate transportation records within logistics and fleet management systems.
- Support vehicle remarketing, auction logistics, and redeployment initiatives.
- Coordinate cross-border vehicle shipments, including customs documentation and compliance where applicable.
- Manage transportation priorities during peak volumes, seasonal demand, or emergency situations.
- Collaborate with fleet, sales, operations, and customer service teams to align transport activities with business needs.
- Conduct root cause analysis for damaged, delayed, or lost vehicles and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure adherence to quality standards and damage prevention best practices.
- Support onboarding and performance monitoring of transport vendors and drivers.
- Assist with route optimization and capacity planning to improve efficiency.
- Maintain high standards of customer service throughout the vehicle transport lifecycle.
Secondary Functions
- Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
- Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
- Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
- Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Knowledge of vehicle transportation methods, including open and enclosed carriers.
- Familiarity with DOT regulations and transportation compliance requirements.
- Experience using transportation management systems (TMS) or fleet management software.
- Ability to read and process bills of lading, condition reports, and transport contracts.
- Understanding of vehicle inspection standards and damage assessment.
- Proficiency in route planning, scheduling, and shipment tracking.
- Experience coordinating with carriers, drivers, and logistics vendors.
- Basic cost analysis and invoice reconciliation skills.
- Knowledge of automotive terminology and vehicle handling procedures.
- Ability to manage cross-border or port logistics documentation.
Soft Skills
- Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- High attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
- Customer-focused mindset with problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage time-sensitive deliveries.
- Collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent
Preferred Education:
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Logistics or Supply Chain Management
- Transportation or Business Administration
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years in vehicle transportation, logistics, or fleet operations
Preferred:
- Prior experience in automotive logistics or fleet transportation
- Familiarity with high-volume vehicle movement and carrier coordination