Manager Trainee, Summer

Job Summary

Under general supervision, this position is responsible for learning the management of a small driver count and/or non-traditional shifts (including nights and weekends), ensuring safe and timely movement of freight, load assignment, and providing best‑in‑class customer service. The role includes training to ensure compliance with DOT regulations and maintaining all drivers’ compliance with company regulations while coordinating with internal and external contacts for accurate planning, routing, monitoring, and delivery of freight and loads.

• Build and maintain positive professional relationships with drivers and reliable external carriers to ensure seamless carrier set‑up, minimize turnover, and maximize productivity.
• Fill in for absent or unavailable personnel and support special projects focused on optimizing fleet operations and profitability.
• Utilize personnel management skills to train and orient drivers, including assistance with internal and third‑party (customer) systems.
• Maximize fleet efficiency and profitability by recommending continuous improvements, measuring key performance indicators, and presenting customer‑specific reporting and financial analysis during face‑to‑face interactions.
• Manage inventory, assets, and customer pools, and assign drivers to balance equipment in the market.
• Perform administrative duties such as payroll, net‑revenue budget management, driver counseling, accident reviews, documentation, pay issue resolution, P&L analysis, invoicing, and creating financial reports.
• Manage the yard by inspecting equipment, replacing parts (e.g., mud flaps), completing repairs, and coordinating with maintenance to schedule preventive maintenance and address safety‑related mechanical issues.
• Resolve service issues, routing and planning challenges, mechanical problems, and accessorial pay issues with drivers, customers, and company personnel throughout the day and when on call.
• Maintain the company’s safety culture by delivering daily driver safety messages, monthly safety briefings, quarterly training, annual reviews, and enforcing DOT compliance and safety requirements.
• Assign loads and plan, route, and monitor freight movement to ensure safe, on‑time service that meets customer requirements, including managing freight exceptions and driver ETA adjustments based on pickup/delivery schedules and other road factors.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Transportation/Logistics, Supply Chain, or related field, or high school diploma/GED with one year of experience in management, transportation/logistics, business administration, account management, or equivalent military experience.
• Willingness to travel to account, customer, and company event locations when applicable.
• Ability to work across multiple shifts, including nights and/or weekends.
• Willingness to relocate regionally based on account assignment.

• Experience managing a team.
• Ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve conflicts at individual, group, or situational levels.
• Strong analytical skills to make productive decisions based on informed judgment.
• Adaptability to changing environments.
• Ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
• Capability to meet or exceed team and driver expectations while providing excellent service directly or indirectly.
• Effective communication skills across various mediums.
• Problem‑solving skills for organizational, operational, or process issues.

This position is not eligible for employment‑based sponsorship.

Factors that may affect starting pay within the range include skills, education, experience, geography, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. The position may be eligible for an annual bonus and incentives based on profitability or volume, in accordance with the company’s bonus and incentive plans.

Full‑time positions may include medical, dental, and vision benefits; a 401(k) retirement plan; life insurance; short‑term and long‑term disability coverage; paid time off commensurate with tenure (including vacation and sick time); two weeks…