Allen Blankenship
St. Louis,MO
Summary
Experienced with logistics coordination and supply chain management. Utilizes problem-solving skills to ensure efficient operations and timely deliveries. Track record of effective leadership and fostering collaborative team environments. 18 years of industry experience leading through operations management, account management, and beneficial cargo owner roles. Respected manager with proven history of developing team members into progressing roles. Logistics management experience covering: Ocean, Rail, LTL & FTL Trucking, Air Freight, E-Commerce, and Parcel. Experience shipping products subject to ITAR and hazardous regulations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Logistics Manager
Akima
St. Louis, MO
03.2024 - Current
- Responsible for Carrier Procurement, Fleet Vehicles, and Rental Equipment.
- Point of Contact for all companies that must deliver or pick up goods from the facility.
- Procurement for equipment, office supplies, materials, safety PPE, tools, and services.
- Warranty repair coordination with contractors that have installed products onsite that qualify for service.
- Key Master for all keys related to the facility.
- Responsible for storage strategy, warehouse codification and mapping, and database tracking of US Government property received on site, approximately 40,000 parts.
- Trained in Government Accountability systems through Defense Acquisition University courses: CLM 039, CLM 040, CLM 047, CLM 048.
- National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, St. Louis, MO. Top Secret/SCI Clearance.
Manager of Transportation and Logistics
AOB Products Company
Columbia, MO
12.2020 - 10.2023
- Served as procurement manager for all things transportation: NVOCC/Freight Forwarders, Ocean Import, Parcel, Air Freight, Trucking: Container Drayage, Trade Show Expedited, FTL, and LTL.
- Contract negotiations with the carriers/vendors.
- Direct relationships with points of contacts in vendor organizations on matters of service, billing, company needs, and strategic alliances.
- Perform RFQs with trucking, ocean, and parcel representatives, as necessary.
- Internal point of contact for all departments to meet their shipping needs.
- Several noteworthy accomplishments to date, including:
- Improved audit procedures with new Freight Audit & Payor vendor.
- Signed AOB's first contract with an ocean carrier, saving approximately $10 million USD during shipping crisis.
- Identified E-Commerce surcharge irregularities. Reducing the cost of parcel by 50% in 6 months.
- Initiated Tariff Drawback for Export Sales, yielding approximately $2 Million thus far.
- Established multi-bid requirement for Air Freight saving nearly $1Million USD annually.
- Founding member of AOB's philanthropy & employee relations committee.
- Founded transportation team for a new company that resulted from August 2020 spinoff from Smith & Wesson.
National Distribution manager
Hankook Tire USA
Nashville, TN
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Led team of domestic transportation analysts, billing clerks, warehousing managers, and trucking dispatchers.
- Carrier billing, rate issues/negotiations were streamlined, RFQ process was also executed for all lanes.
- Identified lagging bill payment to vendors, thus improving carrier relationships.
- Debit/Credit memo process was improved through offering additional resources by getting employee buy-in to assist team members to keep workloads current.
- Addressed performance in payment to service vendors in the warehouse sector, avoided paying late fees once identified.
- Coached and counseled employees regarding their performance, consulted with the Director, given his long term relationship with the team, to agree upon long term performance improvement plans.
- Worked closely with South Korean expatriates that reported to the leader of all North American activities for Hankook.
- Part of a company team that distributed record volumes 4 months in a row.
- Identified all delinquent billing and launched initiative to pay millions in late LTL payables.
Account manager
American President Lines
Santee, SC
10.2018 - 07.2020
- Negotiated contracts with high volume shippers, manufacturers, and consignees in the Carolinas for international freight container movement.
- Settled disputes concerning incorrect invoices, misrouted cargo and incorrect application of contract terms.
- Customer advocate to secure vessel space, timely truck power, and attentive customer service.
- Daily communication via multiple communication platforms to meet customer needs and increase volume of container shipments.
- Leveraged data from industry and company sources to identify opportunities where cargo shipped met company needs for additional volume.
- 2019 Exports increased 91% Year over Year.
- 2019 Q4 Exports Increased 400% Year over Year.
- 2020 Q1 Export Volume Increased 126%, despite impact of pandemic.
- 2020 volume was on target through first six months to increase 150% YoY.
Superintendent of Land Transportation
American President Lines
Nashville, TN
04.2014 - 10.2018
- Supervised multiple MEBA Union clerks in the administration of their duties in First Mile/Last Mile Logistics.
- Supervised Eastern, Southeastern, and Western region teams.
- Teams were responsible for arranging drayage of containers to/from Store Door warehouses, ports, or rail ramps for delivery or loading on behalf of customers requesting this service.
- As a Superintendent it was necessary to collaborate with managers/owners of trucking companies to ensure execution of delivery would meet customer needs, or address performance deficiencies.
- Planned truck power commitments with vendors for the execution high volume customers.
- Facilitated interdepartmental collaboration of customer service, operations, and sales teams to meet customer requirements.
- Researched dwelling containers to prevent the possibility of financial exposure to demurrage at port and rail terminals.
- General supervisory duties: payroll, attendance tracking, training, semi-annual performance reviews, career planning, and providing guidance with a litany of unique service recovery issues.
- Accounts payable reduced by 90% in Western Region, then 80% in Eastern region.
- Carriers met 95% of delivery/loading appointments.
- Multiple employees under my supervision promoted to management roles within company.
- Secretary of Defense Patriotic Employer Award.
Engineer
CSX Transportation
Nashville, TN
03.2013 - 04.2014
- Chief responsibility was safe train handling.
- Collaborated with conductors to ensure safe practices and rule adherence were followed.
- Territory Qualified on multiple subdivisions and yard limits, which require familiarity and expertise of your geographic surroundings.
- Followed directions of yardmasters, dispatchers, trainmen, and company officials regarding instruction of daily duties.
- Completed Engineer Training with High Honors at CSX Railroad Education and Development Institute. 97.56 average on a 100 scale.
Trainmaster
CSX Transportation
Massena, NY
04.2010 - 03.2013
- Company officer tasked with the direct supervision of Trainmen, Yardmasters, and Administrative Clerks.
- Conducted monthly operational safety tests for Transportation craft employees within the framework of CSXT and Federal Rail Administration guidelines.
- Conducted customer meetings to resolve issues with incorrect railcar spotting or timely receipt of railcars.
- Carried out Drug and Alcohol testing within the framework of requirements of the FRA on train crews.
- Regularly supervised a crew base of 40 persons, not including an additional 60 more that would work within my geographical area of responsibility as they operated trains into territory limits.
- Conducted accident investigations, and participated in the hearing process, when necessary for employee discipline.
- Participated in recruiting and interview process, partnering with HR managers to choose candidates.
- Reduced human factor accidents to zero per year on assigned territory within Albany Division.
- Facilitator of yearly rules classes for union employees to meet FRA requirements.
- Excellent Safety Record: Zero reportable injuries by any employees under scope of supervision.
Conductor
CSX Transportation
Nashville, TN
08.2008 - 03.2010
- Supervisor of safe train operation, tasked with logging manifest changes and HazMat placements within the train consist.
- Followed Yardmaster and Company Officer directives regarding operation of train in yards and on line of road.
- Logged Signal indications to affirm what last signal reflected in the case there were a discrepancy amongst crew members.
- Positioned railcars at customer industrial sites, executing plans provided by management team.
- Completed the Conductor Training Program at the CSXT REDI Center with High Honors, a 98.3 on 100 scale, the 2nd highest cumulative score in the history of the program.
- CSXT offered a manager position after the six week conductor training program concluded.
- Qualified to operate trains on 4 subdivisions, covering 600 miles of territory on the Nashville and Atlanta Divisions.
Education
MBA - Operations And Supply Chain Management
University of Illinois - Springfield
Springfield12.2025
Graduate Certificate - Operations and Supply Chain Management
University of Illinois - Springfield
Springfield12.2024
Bachelor of Arts - University Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN05.2002
Skills
- Employee Recruitment and Development
- Transportation management systems
- Negotiation
- Customer Service
- Currently Active Top Secret with SCI designation
- Procurement
- Profit & Loss
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Data Analysis
- International freight management
- Supply chain management
- Logistics management
Timeline
Logistics Manager
Akima
03.2024 - Current
Manager of Transportation and Logistics
AOB Products Company
12.2020 - 10.2023
National Distribution manager
Hankook Tire USA
09.2020 - 12.2020
Account manager
American President Lines
10.2018 - 07.2020
Superintendent of Land Transportation
American President Lines
04.2014 - 10.2018
Engineer
CSX Transportation
03.2013 - 04.2014
Trainmaster
CSX Transportation
04.2010 - 03.2013
Conductor
CSX Transportation
08.2008 - 03.2010
MBA - Operations And Supply Chain Management
University of Illinois - Springfield
Graduate Certificate - Operations and Supply Chain Management
University of Illinois - Springfield
Bachelor of Arts - University Studies
Middle Tennessee State University