Manager Trainee, Summer

Job Title:

Manager Trainee, Summer 2026

Department:
Supply Chain

Country:
United States of America

State/Province:
Illinois

City:
Chicago

Full/Part Time:
Full time

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 involves training to ensure compliance with DOT regulations, driver compliance, and company regulations while working with internal and external contacts to ensure accurate planning, routing, monitoring, and delivery of freight and loads.

• Build and maintain positive professional relationships with drivers and reliable outside carriers to ensure seamless new carrier set‑up, minimize turnover, and maximize ongoing productivity.
• Fill in for absent or unavailable personnel and work on special projects related to optimizing fleet operations and achieving profitability.
• Utilize personnel management including training and orientation of drivers and employees; assist with internal and third‑party (customer) systems.
• Maximize efficiency of fleet operations and profitability; make recommendations for continuous improvement, measure key performance indicators, and create, maintain, and present customer‑specific reporting and financial analysis at customer locations.
• Manage inventory, assets, customer pools, and driver assignments to balance equipment in market.
• Perform administrative duties such as payroll, net‑revenue budget management, driver counseling, accident reviews, filing and documentation, resolving pay issues, analyzing P&L statements, invoicing, or creating operational or financial reports.
• Manage yard operations, inspect equipment, replace parts, coordinate repairs, and ensure preventative maintenance services are scheduled and safety‑related mechanical issues are resolved for account equipment.
• Resolve service issues, routing and/or planning, mechanical problems, accessorial pay issues, etc., in collaboration with drivers, customers, and company personnel.
• Maintain the company’s safety culture through daily driver safety messages, monthly briefings, quarterly training, annual reviews, and enforcement of DOT compliance and company safety requirements.
• Assign loads and plan, route, and monitor freight movement to provide safe, on‑time service, meet customer requirements, manage freight exceptions, and adjust driver ETA based on pickup and delivery schedules and environmental factors.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Transportation/Logistics, Supply Chain, or related field OR High School Diploma/GED with 1 year of experience in management, transportation/logistics, business administration, account management, or related field, and/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 if needed.
• Willingness to relocate regionally depending on account assignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a team.
• Ability to anticipate, recognize, and deal effectively with existing or potential conflicts at individual, group, or situational levels.
• Accurate analysis of situations and decision making based on informed judgment.
• Adaptability to changing environments.
• Establishment and maintenance of healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
• Meeting or exceeding team/driver needs and expectations while providing excellent service.
• Effective communication skills across various mediums.
• Recognition, anticipation, and resolution of organizational, operational, or process problems.

The starting pay within the range for this role may be affected by 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 volumes in accordance with the company’s bonus and incentive plans.

• Medical benefit
• Dental…