Driver Manager

Ashley Furniture Industries•Advance, NC

About The Position

The Driver Manager oversees the daily activities of a group of professional drivers, called “Ambassadors,” to ensure safe, on-time, and cost-effective transportation. As the primary contact for assigned drivers, this role provides direction, support, and performance management while ensuring compliance with DOT/FMCSA regulations and company policies. The Driver Manager balances service, safety, and productivity by monitoring performance and hours of service, resolving issues, and coordinating with dispatch, planning, customer service, and operations teams. The role operates primarily in a transportation or operations office, with frequent phone and system-based communication. It may include visits to yards, docks, and distribution centers, exposure to outdoor weather, noise, and moving equipment, and occasional travel to remote locations, ride-alongs, or regional operations. Flexible hours—including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and an on-call rotation—may be needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
2–4 years of experience in transportation, dispatch, driver management, or logistics operations.
Working knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and hours-of-service requirements.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with drivers and cross-functional partners.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple drivers and issues simultaneously.
Basic analytical skills and the ability to interpret performance data and make informed decisions.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook, and ability to learn TMS and telematics systems.
Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and an on-call rotation as needed.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in logistics, supply chain management, business administration, or a related field.
Experience in dedicated fleet operations, regional or OTR trucking, or last-mile delivery.
Experience with TMS platforms, ELD systems, and telematics tools.
CDL or prior commercial driving experience; helpful but not required.
Experience in furniture, retail, or manufacturing distribution.
Exposure to lean or continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary liaison for assigned drivers, providing daily direction, support, and communication.
Build relationships with drivers based on trust, respect, and consistent follow-through.
Monitor driver performance, including on-time delivery, safety, hours-of-service compliance, productivity, and customer service.
Conduct regular driver check-ins to review performance, address concerns, and provide coaching.
Assist with driver onboarding, orientation, and ongoing training.
Support driver retention by promptly addressing issues and recognizing strong performance.
Coordinate with dispatch and planning teams to align driver assignments with capacity and service requirements.
Ensure drivers understand load details, routes, appointment windows, and special instructions.
Monitor load progress and address delays, breakdowns, weather disruptions, and other service-impacting events.
Adjust plans to maintain service performance while respecting hours-of-service and safety requirements.
Help optimize driver utilization by minimizing empty miles, maximizing miles per day, and balancing work across the fleet.
Ensure driver adherence to DOT/FMCSA regulations, including hours of service, ELD usage, vehicle inspections, and driver qualification requirements.
Promote a safety-first culture and reinforce safe driving behaviors.
Review accidents, incidents, violations, and near-misses, and support corrective action plans.
Coordinate with safety, HR, and fleet maintenance on compliance, training, or disciplinary issues.
Verify completion of required pre-trip and post-trip inspections and timely reporting of equipment defects.
Act as an escalation point for driver- or load-related issues affecting customers or operations.
Help resolve service failures, appointment issues, detention, and access challenges.
Communicate service updates, delays, and resolution plans to customer service, operations, sales, and other internal stakeholders.
Assist drivers with on-the-road issues by coordinating with dispatch, maintenance, and support functions.
Track driver metrics such as on-time performance, miles, fuel usage, idle time, out-of-route miles, and safety indicators.
Use transportation management systems and telematics tools to monitor driver activity and performance.
Regularly review HOS and ELD data to assess compliance and trip-planning effectiveness.
Provide input on driver performance reviews, pay recommendations, and incentive programs.
Identify trends and recommend process changes to support continuous improvement.
Collaborate with transportation leadership, dispatch, planning, customer service, fleet maintenance, and warehouse operations.
Participate in daily or weekly operations meetings to review performance and upcoming needs.
Clearly communicate company policies, changes, and initiatives to drivers.
Support driver communications and change management for network changes, new lanes, or service models.
Demonstrate company core and growth values in interactions and decisions.
Go to yards, docks, and road observations to understand operational realities firsthand.
Promote continuous improvement, accountability, and a customer-centered approach across assigned driver teams.