Manager Trainee

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 will include training to ensure compliance with DOT regulations and responsibility for all drivers’ compliance with 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 safe, 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 and assistance 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 through face‑to‑face interactions at customer locations.
• Manage inventory, assets, customer pools and/or driver assignment to balance equipment in the market.
• Perform administrative duties such as payroll, management of the Net‑Revenue budget, driver counseling, accident reviews, filing and documentation, resolving pay issues, analyzing P&L statements, invoicing and/or creating operational or financial reports.
• Manage the yard, including checking/inspecting equipment, replacing parts (e.g., mud flaps), completing repairs, and coordinating with maintenance to schedule preventive maintenance services and fix safety‑related mechanical issues on account equipment.
• Work with drivers, customers, and company personnel to resolve service issues, routing and planning, mechanical problems, accessorial pay issues, and other day‑to‑day challenges, including on‑call support when necessary.
• Maintain the company’s safety culture by delivering daily driver safety messages, monthly driver safety briefings, quarterly driver training, annual reviews, and enforcing company policies to meet DOT compliance and safety requirements.
• Assign loads and plan, route, and monitor freight movement to provide safe, on‑time service and meet customer requirements, including managing freight exceptions and driver ETA adjustments based on pickup and delivery schedules and other environmental factors.

• 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 based on account assignment.

• Experience managing a team.
• Anticipate, recognize, and handle conflicts at individual, group, or situational levels.
• Accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
• Adapt to changing environments.
• Establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
• Meet or exceed team/driver needs and expectations, providing excellent service directly or indirectly.
• Effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas through various media.
• Recognize, anticipate, and resolve organizational, operational, or process problems.

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