How to hire a terminal operations supervisor

How to hire a terminal operations supervisor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step terminal operations supervisor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a terminal operations supervisor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal operations supervisor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your terminal operations supervisor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a terminal operations supervisor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a terminal operations supervisor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a terminal operations supervisor that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of terminal operations supervisor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Terminal Operations Supervisor	Description	Hourly rate
   Terminal Operations Supervisor		$17-33
   Warehouse Lead	Warehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments... Show more	$12-29
   Route Manager	A route manager determines strategic routes transport vehicles may take to every destination. A route manager's primary responsibility is to mark the shortest and fastest way to the customer's destination... Show more	$18-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • Logistics
   • LTL
   • OSHA
   • Safety Program
   • Safety Rules
   • Storage Tanks
   • Payroll
   • Hazardous Materials
   • FRA
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Load Planning
   • Inventory Control
   • Computer System

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all aspects of warehousing such as inbound, outbound and production in a highly mechanize warehouse that utilizes RF functionality.
   • Develop, test and implement computerized RF technology within the warehouse.
   • Close out BOL s on customer s proprietary software and arrange batches for billing.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your terminal operations supervisor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A terminal operations supervisor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, terminal operations supervisors' average salary in louisiana is 33% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level terminal operations supervisors 46% less than senior-level terminal operations supervisors.
   • Certifications. A terminal operations supervisor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a terminal operations supervisor's salary.

   Average terminal operations supervisor salary

   $50,769yearly

   $24.41 hourly rate

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   Entry-level terminal operations supervisor salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 16, 2026

4. Writing a terminal operations supervisor job description

   A job description for a terminal operations supervisor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a terminal operations supervisor job description:

   Terminal operations supervisor job description example

   The Role and the Company
   
   Lehigh Hanson is North America's leading supplier of cement, aggregates, ready mix concrete, and asphalt. We have hundreds of plants and thousands of employees working across the United States and Canada. We are also part of Heidelberg Cement Group, one of the world's largest building materials companies.
   
   The Terminal Supervisor role is based in Plainfield, IL and reports directly to the Senior Area Terminal Manager.
   
   Here's what you'll get to do:
   
   • Supervise the day-to-day operations of our Plainfield, Illinois Cement terminal
   • Schedule and supervise the work as required to meet distribution requirements
   • Communicate with Sales and Logistics personnel to promote open channels of communication
   • Ensure proper inventory levels are maintained
   • Oversee the maintenance work performed by employees and outside contractors
   • Perform maintenance activities, some of which are on top of our 100 feet tall silos
   • Supervise and perform daily operational tasks
   • Promote safe work habits and a safe work environment along with holding weekly safety meetings and job pre-work analysis
   • Follow and enforce all company policies and safety procedures
   • Plan and implement cost improvement strategies on an ongoing basis
   • Ensure compliance with environmental standards and government regulations
   • Maintain time, work orders, material, equipment, and other records along with a critical spare parts list
   • Submit reports
   • Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair equipment problems to minimize downtime and ensure proper operation
   • Receive and unload incoming materials (truck & rail)
   • Load customer trucks via a computerized loading system
   • Plan and execute capital improvements
   • Maintain vendor relationships
   
   Essential Experience and Skills
   
   • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in cement distribution or related distribution industry preferred.
   • Strong communication skills to interact with customers, contractors, and intracompany personnel
   • High School Diploma or GED equivalent
   • Good technical knowledge of computer hardware and software
   • Computer proficiencies in Microsoft Office, SAP, and Cement Distribution Management
   • Basic office skills are a must
   • Good mechanical and electrical aptitude and ability
   • Ability to operate/troubleshoot a computerized control system - PLC a plus
   • Strong organizational skills
   • Demonstrate commitment and ability to work in a team environment
   
   What we have to offer
   
   • Competitive base salary
   • Highly competitive benefits programs
   • 401k retirement savings plan with an automatic company contribution as well as matching contributions
   
   IND123
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find terminal operations supervisors for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your terminal operations supervisor job on Zippia to find and recruit terminal operations supervisor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit terminal operations supervisors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal operations supervisor

   Once you've found the terminal operations supervisor candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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