Transload Operations Manager

Department: Operations

Reports To: General Manager

Company: Total Transload Services (2015) Inc.

Position Summary The Transload Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and optimizing daily operations across the company's transloading terminals and facilities.

This position is accountable for ensuring all rail transloading, truck loading and unloading, warehousing, material handling, and related activities are completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within established budgets.

The Operations Manager provides direct leadership to operational personnel, coordinates equipment and resources, maintains operational schedules, and ensures that customer requirements, company procedures, and safety standards are consistently met.

The role requires a proactive, hands-on management approach, with a strong emphasis on planning, accountability, productivity, cost control, and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions and Major Responsibilities1. Daily Operations Management

- Oversee and coordinate all daily activities across company-operated transloading terminals.
- Ensure efficient execution of railcar loading and unloading, truck transloading, warehousing, material handling, and related operations.
- Conduct daily morning operational meetings with department leads to review work schedules, staffing, equipment availability, and customer requirements.
- Establish clear daily priorities and ensure employees understand their assigned responsibilities.
- Conduct regular site inspections throughout the day to monitor work progress, productivity, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Identify operational bottlenecks, scheduling conflicts, and equipment limitations, and take corrective action to minimize disruptions.
- Ensure all customer orders and operational commitments are completed accurately and within required timelines.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient working environment across all facilities.
- Ensure proper opening, closing, and security procedures are followed at all operating locations.

1. Operational Planning and Scheduling

- Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly operational schedules.
- Prepare and maintain rolling 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day operational forecasts to anticipate staffing, equipment, railcar movements, and customer volume requirements.
- Coordinate railcar arrivals, switching, unloading, loading, and departures to minimize railcar dwell time and maximize terminal capacity.
- Coordinate truck movements and loading schedules to minimize driver wait times and maximize equipment utilization.
- Ensure adequate staffing and equipment are available to meet operational demands.
- Coordinate planned maintenance activities to minimize operational downtime.
- Work closely with the Control Room and dispatch personnel to ensure effective communication and execution of daily schedules.
- Develop contingency plans for unexpected volume increases, equipment failures, staffing shortages, and operational disruptions.

1. Personnel Management and Leadership

- Provide direct supervision and leadership to all operational departments, including transloading, warehousing, rail switching, dangerous goods handling, maintenance, and general labour.
- Assign personnel based on workload, qualifications, and operational priorities.
- Monitor employee attendance, work hours, overtime, and productivity.
- Maintain accurate daily labour records, including hours worked by department and activity.
- Ensure staffing levels are appropriate for operational requirements while controlling unnecessary overtime.




- Conduct regular employee performance reviews and provide coaching, training, and corrective action where required.
- Assist with recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of operational employees.
- Establish clear performance expectations and hold employees accountable for meeting company standards.
- Promote effective communication and teamwork between departments.
- Identify opportunities for cross-training employees to improve workforce flexibility and reduce labour costs.

1. Safety, Compliance, and Quality Control

- Ensure all operations comply with company safety policies, standard operating procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Conduct routine site inspections to identify unsafe conditions, equipment deficiencies, and operational hazards.
- Ensure employees are properly trained and qualified for the equipment and activities they perform.
- Enforce proper use of personal protective equipment and safe operating practices.
- Coordinate with the HSE department to ensure inspections, safety meetings, incident investigations, and corrective actions are completed.
- Ensure dangerous goods are handled, stored, and transferred in accordance with applicable regulations and company procedures.
- Monitor operational quality to prevent product contamination, spills, damage, shortages, and customer complaints.
- Investigate operational incidents, identify root causes, and implement preventive measures.
- Maintain proper housekeeping standards across all terminals and operational areas.
- Exercise authority to stop unsafe work immediately.

1. Equipment and Maintenance Coordination

- Monitor the condition, availability, and utilization of all operational equipment, including forklifts, loaders, conveyors, pumps, blowers, transloading systems, and rail equipment.
- Coordinate with maintenance personnel to establish preventive maintenance schedules.
- Ensure equipment deficiencies are reported, documented, and addressed promptly.
- Prioritize maintenance activities based on operational requirements and safety considerations.
- Minimize equipment downtime through proactive planning and coordination.
- Identify equipment replacement, upgrades, or additional equipment requirements.
- Ensure proper equipment operating procedures are followed to reduce unnecessary wear, damage, and repair costs.

1. Cost Control and Operational Efficiency

- Monitor operational labour costs, equipment utilization, consumables, and other controllable expenses.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce operating costs, and eliminate inefficiencies.
- Review labour allocation and overtime to ensure resources are being utilized effectively.
- Evaluate operational processes and recommend improvements to increase throughput and reduce handling costs.
- Track productivity by department, including tonnes handled, railcars processed, trucks loaded, and labour hours utilized.
- Assist the General Manager with operational budgeting, forecasting, and capital expenditure planning.
- Present cost-saving initiatives and operational improvements with estimated financial benefits.
- Ensure operational decisions support company profitability without compromising safety or service quality.

1. Customer Service and Communication





- Coordinate with customers, dispatch, and internal departments to ensure operational requirements are clearly understood and executed.
- Provide timely updates regarding shipment schedules, delays, operational issues, and service commitments.
- Address customer concerns related to operational performance and coordinate corrective actions.
- Ensure customer-specific handling requirements and quality standards are followed.
- Escalate significant service disruptions, customer complaints, and operational risks to the General Manager.
- Support the implementation of current customer projects, operational processes, and transloading programs.

1. Reporting and Accountability

- Maintain a daily written operational report documenting activities across all terminals.
- Track labour hours, equipment utilization, railcar movements, truck loading activities, and operational productivity.
- Document equipment breakdowns, delays, safety concerns, staffing issues, and corrective actions.
- Provide the General Manager with daily updates on operational performance and outstanding issues.
- Conduct weekly operational planning meetings with department leads.
- Prepare weekly summaries highlighting completed work, upcoming schedules, operational challenges, and improvement opportunities.
- Review monthly operational performance against established budgets and productivity targets.
- Ensure operational records, inspection reports, maintenance logs, and other required documentation are completed accurately and on time.

Secondary Responsibilities
- Assist with planning and implementation of new facilities, equipment installations, and operational expansions.
- Coordinate contractors, suppliers, and service providers involved in operational improvements and maintenance projects.
- Participate in equipment procurement and capital expenditure evaluations.
- Assist with developing and updating standard operating procedures.
- Support workforce development, succession planning, and employee training initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to automate processes and improve operational efficiency.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the General Manager.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The Transload Operations Manager will be evaluated on the following performance measures:

Performance AreaKey MeasurementSafetyIncidents, near misses, corrective action completionProductivityTonnes handled and railcars/trucks processed per labour hourLabour ManagementOvertime, labour utilization, staffing efficiencyEquipmentAvailability, downtime, preventive maintenance complianceSchedulingOn-time completion of customer ordersRail OperationsRailcar dwell time and switching efficiencyCost ControlActual operating costs versus budgetQualityProduct losses, contamination incidents, reworkCustomer ServiceService reliability and customer complaintsReportingAccuracy and timely submission of operational reportsAuthority and Accountability The Operations Manager is responsible for making day-to-day operational decisions involving staffing, work assignments, equipment allocation, scheduling, and workflow coordination.

The Operations Manager is expected to independently resolve routine operational challenges while escalating significant financial, safety, personnel, and customer-related matters to the General Manager.

The Operations Manager is ultimately accountable for ensuring that operations are safe, organized, productive, properly staffed, and completed in accordance with customer requirements and company expectations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $30.00-$45.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

📌 Rail Transload Operations Manager (Fort Saskatchewan)
🏢 Total Transload Services (2015
📍 Fort Saskatchewan