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Transportation Analyst

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers.  Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust
Position Summary: 
The Transportation Analyst is responsible for the day-to-day facilitation and coordination of the containerboard division rail and trucking distribution needs. This includes analyzing company operations to identify opportunities for distribution cost saving, accumulating and analyzing data to support recommendations, and assessing and developing alternative courses of action to provide optimum customer service balanced with cost efficiency.
 
Dimensions:
This position is responsible for maintaining the required service level in terms of meeting delivery commitments for over 4.5 million tons / year of outside paper sales and the delivery to over 90 PCA manufacturing centers in the most cost-effective manner possible. This includes the movement of over 85,625 trucks and 38,482 rail cars at a total freight cost in excess of $320 million/ year.  
 
Principle Accountabilities: 
  • Coordinate the day-to-day operations of the division’s dispatch functions.  This includes determining transportation or shipping needs, designing appropriate schedules, and assessing freight options to meet the company’s needs.
  • Conduct ongoing review and assessment of operations to ensure delivery schedule. This includes reviewing carrier service reports, investigating slow or non-moving rail cars, resolving rail rebills, demurrage and/or damage issues, and recommending changes that resolve problems and increase service.
  • Prepare and issue rate guides and schedules, determine carrier authority, insurance, and liability and assist in carrier identification, contract negotiation, and certification.
  • Create, modify, and produce reports from the AS/400 rail and truck TMS systems to review and monitor mill shipments, plant inventories, and current plant consumption against predetermined goals to recommend transportation solutions that ensure desired inventory levels.
  • Conduct ongoing maintenance of data and information in multiple mill transportation systems including truck carrier information, rates, and routes.
  • Create departmental reports to provide performance summaries by carrier and by mill.
  • Serve as a resource for the company on rail and trucking transportation issues and provide analysis and commentary related to potential risks, competitor activities, and customer business issues within the realm of transportation. 
  • Stay abreast of issues and trends that affect PCA and our customers and recommends strategies that support best practice transportation delivery.
  • Ensure freight damage prevention and damage mitigation including providing PCA and its customers with a comprehensive program of assistance to reduce load damages and increase overall customer satisfaction. 
  • Maintain a high level of knowledge pertaining to loading pattern designs, product securement methodology, and evaluations of transit quality and problem tracking.
  • Know and follows policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team, and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
  • Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectations for customers.  This includes supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.
 
Decision Making:
The Transportation Analyst is expected to make all day-to-day operating decisions to ensure that all service commitments are kept with all internal and external customers.  This includes the authorization of non-routine methods of delivery and storage when it is in the best interest of PCA from a cost or customer service standpoint.  
This position requires a dedicated individual who is prepared to be available for problem resolution on a 24-hour, 7 day/week basis and can function effectively both inside and outside of the office support environment.
 
Interactions with Customers and Contacts
This position has direct interaction with all internal and external customers to ensure that the level of service delivered either meets or exceeds the customer’s expectation.  This position has the authority to make the economic decisions necessary to ensure that these expectations are met from a logistics point of view.  The Transportation Analyst is directly responsible for developing the carrier network and continuously improving overall performance while driving out cost.  A failure in these key areas would result in the loss of a customer and a direct impact to the company’s profitability.
 
Position Requirements
  • Education equivalent to a bachelor’s degree preferably in business, transportation, or logistics required.
  • Up to five (5) years previous work experience preferred in a corporate transportation function with experience in both rail and truck delivery.  Previous Containerboard and/or Corrugated Packaging industry experience preferred.
  • APICS or Transportation certification a plus.
  • Solid working knowledge of all Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations relating to transportation with a solid understanding of DOT and ICC guidelines and requirements.
  • Working knowledge of computer systems including experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as experience with manufacturing systems including shop floor and enterprise customer service management software.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with individuals throughout the company on departmental procedures, policies, and requests for information.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build relationships with individuals of various experience and levels both within and outside of the company.
  • Solid negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to establish rates and transportation changes.
  • Ability to work in a flexible, fast paced, deadline-oriented environment, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple projects and/or requests concurrently as the main point of contact 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Strong listening, evaluating, analytical, and problem-solving skills.  Ability to create alternative solutions and meet deadlines. 
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle numerous details, deadlines, and requests.
  • Must be able to travel as necessary and possess a valid U.S. driver’s license.
  • Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.
   #LI-VP1 
All qualified applicants must apply at Careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.