This is the sort of job that takes an unusually good man to fill --one who is sharp, able to get along with people, and respect them for their ability, from the dock workers and clerks to the supervisors and middle--management men, and one who can really be the boss and the leader without "showing it" by nasty, authoritative actions. In other words, a man who knows all the ins and outs of terminal operations, plus, and who uses his personality and warmth in dealing with the people under him.
As someone has said:
An executive by himself is of no importance whatever. Your primary function, in addition to whatever other duties you may have, is essentially influencing others to cooperate toward the goal which your company has found desirable. Thus, your success in the role of terminal manager depends on the time, energy, and skill which is applied to human relations.
The typical Terminal Organization Chart is a sample of how one company has set up its management and supervisory staff, as well as the various key jobs that make a good terminal click.
Note how the terminal manager is buttressed by a secretary, who can become a key factor in the manager's success; and a security force, which is directly under his instructions to protect company buildings by adequate doors, with locks; fences kept maintained around the property; undesirable personnel kept away; and unauthorized persons kept from entering buildings and property, to prevent thefts.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Under general supervision of a region or district manager, and within limits of company policies, and state and federal regulations, this position is fully responsible for organizing, staffing, and directing the terminal operations to achieve sales, cost, and profit objectives of the company.
As part of his many duties and responsibilities, the terminal manager
- Organizes and schedules sufficient labor to meet anticipated requirements.
- Continually reviews and analyzes terminal performance, identifies problem areas, and takes action as required.
- In some cases, plans, directs, and actively participates in sales activities--makes sales calls alone or with sales personnel.
- Reviews performance of supervisory and nonsupervisory personnel. Hires, trains, assigns, transfers, and disciplines as required maintaining an effective work force.
- Regularly checks conditions of equipment and facilities to assure that proper safeguards and maintenance are in effect.
- Can also supervise the preparation and maintenance of terminal and other required records and reports and assures the protection of company funds and compliance with all applicable laws.
- Knows, interprets, and applies labor contract provisions, company policies and instructions. Answers questions, adjusts grievances and complaints, and represents the company with local business and civic groups.
- Keeps abreast of market conditions, line operations, interchange points, running times, etc., and coordinates terminal activity with superior and other terminals as required.
- Plans for and controls assignment and carrying out of any of the above duties by subordinate supervisors.
- Minimum high-school education preferred, with some college desirable.
- Extensive knowledge of terminal operations and experience in key subordinate, supervisory, and middle-management positions that offer a range of opportunities with which to have on-the-job acquaintance and training in handling operations problems, emergencies, and people problems and contacts. Since terminals are rated "small," "medium," and "large," the steps can be up and up as a man's abilities improve and his value to the company increases.
- Since one of his responsibilities is to foster good customer and company relations with the general public and his own employees, he should have had experience in sales work, personnel work, civic organization work, and in other tasks that include dealing and working with others.
- Among special training and college courses of value to a man working toward terminal management, or in it and desiring to improve himself, are: Warehousing and Materials Handling, Motion and Time Study, Foremanship Training, Production Control. Others might include: Transportation Accounting, Traffic Management, Rates and Tariffs, Insurance and Claims, Federal Transportation Law and Procedures, Safety Engineering, Industrial Psychology, Tests and Aptitudes, Labor Problems.
