Every LTL carrier has a person in charge of their service centers. Some centers share a manager, depending on the region, but there's always someone in charge.
Why, you ask? Because the SCM is the front man for the center's operations on the corporate side. If the center isn't making numbers, the SCM is the one corporate blames. Why? Because it's the job of the SCM to oversee the terminal's day to day operations and ensure they're running according to corporate's mandate.
That's not a job that can be reasonably done remotely by the regional operations management. Accountability at the local level, that's the job of the SCM. You wonder why so many of them are jerks? Because they get crap every time something goes wrong, and no thanks for when things go right.
This is how it should work - when it works. SCM = A person responsible and accountable for the operations at the terminal , with a deep understanding of the day to day business and personnel.
The reality is far different , and the reason why there are those of us questioning the need for this position.
Someone to pay the bills? - A CSR can do that ( and does at my location )
Fill in for dispatch and other FOS's? - Well , again , at my location we have an FOS off for medical reasons and a driver fills in - signs pay sheets , sets up the flex guys , runs the outbound , dispatches , even does Kronos. Yep.
Oversee LEAN TEAM and VVT? - Our human resources person does that. Honestly. And if you ask our SCM about something like this directly you will politely be referred to HR or one of the team members.
Hire and fire people? - Again , not something that is entirely controlled by SCM. Conference calls and HR. And only with approval and with authority of others ( which makes sense , you don't want one individual making hiring/fireing personal )
Vacation time , building maintenance? - both handled by someone else ( or something else ) FOS does vacation ( check the calendar , see if there's an opening , mark you down. Tell SCM that a dockplate is broken "write it on the MAINTENANCE ISSUES BOARD" , problem remains for indefinite period until FOS can contact vendor after getting approval from Ann Arbor.
For every good SCM that you may trust and like ( Upnorth has mentioned that he trusts his SCM ) you have another that is a weasel , and adds little to nothing to our company.