Container Tracking & Vendor Payment Excel Sheet

JOB POSTING: CONTAINER & FREIGHT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ *I had AI write this* POSITION OVERVIEW We're a growing import logistics company managing containerized freight operations. We're looking for someone to revolutionize our container payment tracking and vendor coordination system. If you've got hands-on container experience, know the industry standards, and can see opportunities where others see chaos—we want to talk to you. THE CHALLENGE Currently, our entire container payment and logistics pipeline runs through a manual Excel-based system. Here's the reality: - POs are created in Sage 100 - Container data comes in from multiple freight forwarders (different formats, different systems, different headaches) - All of that data gets manually consolidated into a single tracking sheet - Payment status, delivery confirmations, vendor invoicing, and container returns are tracked manually - Rates, terms, and reconciliation happen manually - Only one person fully understands how it all connects This system works, but it's not scalable. It requires constant manual intervention, it's error-prone, and there's zero redundancy if someone's out sick. WHAT WE NEED We need someone who: ✓ Has real hands-on experience managing containerized freight operations ✓ Understands the industry standards and best practices (terminal fees, demurrage, detention charges, return dates, dwell time, etc.) ✓ Can look at our current process and immediately spot inefficiencies ✓ Can either optimize our existing system OR recommend a better solution (whether that's a different tool, platform, or workflow) ✓ Knows how to bridge data from Sage 100 and multiple freight forwarder platforms ✓ Is comfortable working with Excel at a high level OR can recommend/implement better alternatives ✓ Can document processes so this knowledge isn't stuck with one person ✓ Brings ideas about industry tools/solutions we might not be aware of YOUR MISSION 1. Audit our current container tracking process and identify bottlenecks 2. Design a solution to consolidate data from multiple forwarders and Sage 100 3. Either optimize the existing Excel workflow OR recommend (and help implement) a new system 4. Create documentation and SOPs so the process is repeatable and transferable 5. Improve payment tracking, vendor reconciliation, and container lifecycle management 6. Potentially train our team on the new process THE SHEET YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH (See attached anonymized sample - this shows the actual structure and complexity) This is what we're tracking: - Container #, Flex Numbers, Multiple Invoice Formats - Vendor names and payment terms - ETA, LFD (Last Free Day), Return Dates, Dwell Time - Payment status tracking across split invoices - Packing list links - Cross-forwarder reconciliation - Multi-part invoicing scenarios THE OPPORTUNITY This isn't just a "clean up my spreadsheet" project. This is a chance to: - Implement industry-standard processes for a growing operation - Design a system that scales as we grow - Potentially recommend tools (3PL platforms, TMS systems, etc.) that could transform our operation - Have direct impact on efficiency, cost control, and team productivity - Work with stakeholders across operations, accounting, and sales teams WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Familiarity with freight forwarders and their data outputs (not just theory) - Strong Excel skills (or ability to work across multiple systems) - Experience with Sage 100 is a plus, but not required - Problem-solving mindset—you don't just execute processes, you improve them - Ability to think about workflow optimization and data integrity - Clear communication skills (this knowledge needs to be documented and transferable) - We're genuinely interested in YOUR recommendations for better solutions HOW TO APPLY Send us a message about: 1. Your relevant container/freight operations experience 2. Any systems or processes you've optimized (especially involving multiple data sources) 3. Any tools or platforms you've worked with (3PLs, TMS, forwarder platforms, etc.) 4. What you'd want to do differently if you looked at our sheet =========================== We're serious about finding someone who can make this operation more efficient. If you've managed this kind of chaos before and can see the solution, let's talk.