Garden City
Safety & Claims Manager On-Site | Full-Time Salary: Up to $115,000 The Opportunity A privately held food-distribution company is looking for an experienced, proactive Safety & Claims Manager to lead and tighten company-wide safety. This role is centered on transportation safety, DOT compliance, fleet and driver oversight, accident prevention, and claims. The split is about 75% transportation safety and compliance, 15% claims investigation and administration, and 10% warehouse safety. You will work with operations leadership, employees, insurance carriers, medical providers, and legal counsel to get claims handled correctly and closed on time. The ideal person comes from food distribution, transportation, logistics, or warehouse. They need to be organized, out in the field, and able to build trust with drivers, warehouse associates, supervisors, and senior leadership. Key Responsibilities Transportation Safety & Compliance (75%) • Own transportation safety for drivers, fleet operations, and delivery teams., • Keep the operation compliant with DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, and applicable state and local rules., • Run ride-alongs, in-field driver observations, pre-employment driving tests, and route safety evaluations., • Investigate vehicle accidents, injuries, and near misses; find root cause and put corrective action in place., • Coordinate post-accident investigations, reporting, and retraining., • Build and deliver ongoing driver safety training, defensive driving, and new-driver onboarding., • Track safety KPIs, insurance claims, and fleet incident trends., • Lead regular transportation safety meetings., • Review DQ files, MVRs, hours-of-service, and other transportation safety documentation. Claims Management & Investigation (15%) • Investigate and manage workers’ compensation, vehicle, property, liability, cargo, and other company claims., • Gather statements, review evidence, and determine root cause on loss events., • Work with carriers, adjusters, attorneys, medical providers, and third-party investigators through the life of the claim., • Support claim reviews, insurance audits, and loss-control work with carriers and brokers., • Flag questionable or potentially fraudulent claims while keeping handling fair and compliant. Warehouse Safety Oversight (10%) • Support warehouse safety across receiving, selection, loading, sanitation, and equipment., • Conduct facility safety audits, hazard assessments, and OSHA inspections., • Monitor PPE, forklift certification, lockout/tagout, and warehouse practices., • Partner with warehouse leadership so procedures are actually followed., • Coordinate safety committee meetings and employee engagement. Administrative & Leadership • Keep safety, training, compliance, and claims records accurate., • Track metrics, claim activity, and incident trends and report them to leadership., • Stay current on DOT, OSHA, workers’ compensation, and transportation safety rules., • Serve as the internal point person for transportation safety, claims, and operational safety., • Help leadership build company-wide safety and loss-prevention programs. Qualifications • 3–5+ years of safety experience in transportation, food distribution, logistics, warehouse, claims, or a similar environment., • CDL Class A is strongly preferred., • Strong knowledge of DOT/FMCSA and OSHA., • Experience with accident investigations and root-cause analysis., • Experience managing or supporting workers’ compensation, vehicle, liability, or property claims., • Strong investigative, documentation, and case-management skills., • Familiarity with warehouse operations, fleet safety, and food distribution., • Experience leading safety training and compliance programs., • Strong communication, leadership, and organization., • Delivery-driver experience. Preferred • CDL Class A., • OSHA, DOT, or related safety credentials., • Foodservice distribution experience strongly preferred., • Direct work with insurance carriers, TPAs, or risk-management programs. Physical & Work Environment • Frequent walking through warehouse and transportation areas., • Work in refrigerated, freezer, and dry warehouse environments., • Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds., • Local travel between facilities or ride-alongs as needed., • Flexible schedule, including early mornings or occasional evenings. What We Offer • Salary up to $115,000, based on experience., • Health, dental, and vision., • PTO and paid holidays. This is a confidential search. Company details will be shared with qualified candidates at the appropriate stage. The employer is an equal opportunity employer.
