Lumber Logistics Specialist - Ontario

Logistics Specialist

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Location: In-Office, Bolton, ON

Compensation: $80,000 Annually

About Us

At Dakeryn, we are proud to be one of Canada’s leading lumber wholesale and distribution companies. Since 1992, we’ve built a reputation based on reliability, strong supplier relationships, and a commitment to customer service. With multiple divisions serving customers across the globe, we provide high-quality lumber products and value-added solutions to meet evolving market needs.

Position Summary

This is an advanced role within our logistics team, responsible for the end-to-end coordination and cost-effective movement of lumber across our Eastern Canadian and American carrier network. The Logistics Specialist negotiates freight rates, manages key carrier relationships, recommends consolidation and multi-drop strategy, and acts as a mentor, resource, and escalation point for our logistics operations. We're looking for someone with the experience and sound judgment to make confident, timely decisions from day one. A strong grasp of transportation modes, truck sizing, and rate negotiation in the building materials space is essential, along with a genuine commitment to collaboration and team success.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure strategic alignment, seamless communication, and timely execution.
• Accountable for truck booking and load prioritization, balancing customer urgency, cost-efficiency, and truck size across preferred carriers; escalating uncertainties to management.
• Serve as primary point of contact linking our sales team, mills, reloads, and carriers for smooth and on-time delivery of shipments.
• Handle rush loads and time-sensitive shipments, adjusting schedules and communicating proactively with the sales team, reloads, and carriers.
• Negotiate freight rates and manage relationships with carrier partners across multiple modes (FTL, LTL, intermodal, hot shot).
• Responsible for consolidation of multi-drop and LTL shipments to optimize routing and cost.
• Conduct market research, communicate findings and implications, and recommend courses of action.
• Provide freight rate quotes and lane recommendations to the sales team, including alternative transportation options.
• Oversee trans-border shipment documentation and ensure compliance with cross-border shipping requirements.
• Trace shipments and provide updates to teams; act as the escalation point for carrier performance issues and service disruptions.
• Source new transportation partners, conduct due diligence and initiate vendor onboarding, and evaluate performance.
• Maintain up-to-date schedules and rate records, issue booking confirmations, bills of lading, and other relevant shipping documents; support other administrative accuracy across the logistics function.
• Provide mentorship to teams, lead and participate in cross-training efforts, and contribute to process improvements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive logistics, transportation, or supply chain coordination experience in the lumber or building materials industry.
• Proven experience negotiating freight rates and managing carrier relationships across multiple modes (FTL, LTL, hot shot, intermodal, multi-pick/multi-drop).
• Strong understanding of truck sizing, routing, and freight cost drivers.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize and complete tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving dexterity; confident in assessing challenges, evaluating options, and actioning solutions.
• Proactive, professional, and effective communication skills across various channels, both internally and externally, with a focus on team collaboration and relationship management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and ERP/TMS systems; experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools is an asset.
• Post-secondary education in supply chain, logistics, or business is preferred; a designation such as CITT (Canadian Institute of Traffic thank and Transportation), CCLP, or P.Log is a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor team members and lead process improvements.
• Valid driver's license is an asset.

Why Join Dakeryn?

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits.
• Optional Savings Plan.
• Vacation time and paid holidays.
• Hands-on training and mentorship to support your growth.
• A fun, supportive, team-oriented culture with a focus on growth and continuous improvement.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience to careers@dakeryn.com, referencing "Logistics Specialist - ON". While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Disclaimer: This job posting is to fill a new vacancy within our organization, and the recruitment process may involve the use of AI.