Aaron Essert

About Aaron Essert

I build teams and systems that hold up when the freight market doesn’t.I’m a Director of Operations with 10+ years of experience across domestic transportation, including OTR, intermodal, and LTL. My focus has always been on execution - building scalable processes, prioritizing the right work, and helping teams perform consistently in fast-moving, margin-sensitive environments.My background sits at the intersection of operations, pricing and data strategy, and customer account management. I’ve led cross-functional teams spanning sales, carrier procurement, customer service, and load execution, with an emphasis on clarity, accountability, integrity, and operational excellence. The goal is simple: reduce friction, control cost, and create systems that support sustainable revenue and gross profit growth.

Experience

1. Director of Operations

   McLeod Express LLC

   May 2025 — Present

   Lead day-to-day operations and cross-functional teams overseeing sales, customer service, and pricing strategy- Developed and executed pricing models, improving quote accuracy and response time while enhancing win rates across contract and spot freight- Lead automation initiatives including TMS upgrades, EDI/API integrations, and digital freight matching tools to streamline operations and reduce manual touchpoints- Partner closely with customers, offering solutions while managing expectations, scorecard performance metrics, and long-term relationship health- Collaborate with executive leadership on financial forecasting, market analysis, and growth planning

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science

  2007 — 2011

Skills

• Operations Management
• Shipping
• Logistics
• Warehousing
• Trucking
• Customer Service
• Negotiation
• Management
• Transportation Management
• Freight
• Freight Forwarding
• 3pl
• Truckload Shipping
• International Logistics
• Logistics Management
• Transportation
• Supply Chain Management
• Supply Chain