Erica Ruger
Ottawa,IL
Summary
Seasoned logistics and international trade professional with 26 years of experience in transportation, import/export compliance, customs documentation, and supply chain operations. Expertise in HTS and Schedule B classification, export controls, and hazardous materials shipping. Known for fostering collaborative relationships with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and government agencies to maintain regulatory compliance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Functional Lead, Logistics & Traffic
Fermilab
Batavia, USA
05.2026 - Current
- Led transportation and logistics operations for domestic and international shipments, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
- Ensured compliance with U.S. export regulations, HTS and Schedule B classifications, and hazardous materials requirements to mitigate risks.
- Served as the primary liaison with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and carriers.
- Reviewed and approved transportation invoices, implementing process improvements that streamlined operations.
- Provide guidance and support to internal departments on shipping and trade compliance.
- Fermilab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics.
Traffic Administrator
Fermilab
Batavia, USA
10.2024 - 05.2026
- Coordinated domestic and international shipments with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and carriers to ensure timely delivery.
- Prepared and reviewed import and export documentation to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Facilitated hazardous materials shipping documentation and ensured regulatory compliance for safe transport.
- Maintained HTS and Schedule B classifications and supported export control requirements.
- Implemented process improvements that streamlined shipping and customs activities, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Supported research initiatives at Fermilab, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory focused on high-energy particle physics.
Transportation Coordinator
Fermilab
Batavia, USA
10.2022 - 10.2024
- Coordinated domestic and international shipments across multiple transportation modes to ensure timely delivery.
- Tracked shipments and resolved transportation issues to ensure on-time delivery.
- Collaborated with internal departments and transportation providers to streamline daily shipping operations.
- Prepared bills of lading, commercial invoices, packing lists, and shipping documentation.
- Fermilab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics.
Customer Service Representative
Sarisa Freight
Alsip, Illinois
02.2018 - 09.2022
- Coordinated domestic freight shipments as the primary point of contact, ensuring timely communication and resolving customer inquiries.
- Scheduled pickups and deliveries, providing regular updates on shipment status to customers and carriers to enhance service transparency.
- Prepared shipping documentation and resolved delivery and service issues.
- Developed strong relationships with customers and transportation providers, fostering trust and satisfaction to maintain high service levels.
Traffic Coordinator
Independence Tube Corporation
Marseilles, Illinois
03.1998 - 02.2018
- Scheduled carriers and optimized transportation, ensuring alignment with production and customer delivery schedules.
- Coordinated inbound and outbound domestic truck shipments, enhancing support for manufacturing operations.
- Worked with carriers, warehouse personnel, and customer service to resolve shipping issues and maintain on-time deliveries.
- Reviewed freight activity, contributing to streamlined and efficient transportation operations.
- Prepared bills of lading and other shipping documentation while ensuring accuracy.
Education
High School -
Ottawa High School
Ottawa, IL01-1994
Skills
- Logistics management
- Trade compliance
- Import/Export Documentation
- HTS & Schedule B Classification
- Export Control Compliance
- Hazardous Materials Shipping
- Customs management
- Carrier Management
- Process Improvement
- Invoice Review & Approval
- Vendor management
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Microsoft Teams
- SharePoint
- Cross-functional collaboration
Certification
- IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations Certification
- IMDG Dangerous Goods Certification
- 49 CFR Hazardous Materials Training
- Import/Export Compliance Training
Accomplishments
- Progressed through multiple promotions at Fermilab based on performance, leadership, and technical expertise.
- Recognized as a subject matter expert in international shipping compliance, customs documentation, and transportation regulations.
- Implemented process improvements, including enabling ACH payments with a customs broker to improve payment efficiency.
- Managed complex domestic and international shipments while ensuring compliance with U.S. and international trade regulations.
- Built strong working relationships with carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and internal stakeholders to improve logistics operations.
Timeline
Functional Lead, Logistics & Traffic
Fermilab
05.2026 - Current
Traffic Administrator
Fermilab
10.2024 - 05.2026
Transportation Coordinator
Fermilab
10.2022 - 10.2024
Customer Service Representative
Sarisa Freight
02.2018 - 09.2022
Traffic Coordinator
Independence Tube Corporation
03.1998 - 02.2018
High School -
Ottawa High School