Manager Trainee

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. • Ridgefield, WA

6d • $42,000 - $63,000

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Manager Trainee learns to manage a small driver count and/or non-traditional shifts, including nights and weekends. The role supports safe and timely freight movement, load assignment, and high-quality customer service. The trainee learns to ensure compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and company policies while coordinating with internal and external contacts on the planning, routing, monitoring, and delivery of freight and loads.

The position develops skills in driver and carrier relationships, personnel management, fleet efficiency, customer reporting, inventory and equipment balancing, administrative and financial duties, yard and equipment management, service issue resolution, safety programs, and freight planning. It may require travel to account, customer, and company event locations when applicable, as well as working across multiple shifts, including nights or weekends if needed.

The expected starting pay is $42,000–$63,000. Starting pay may vary based on skills, education, experience, geography, and other qualifications. The position may be eligible for annual bonuses and incentives based on profitability or volumes, under the applicable company plans. It is not eligible for employment-based sponsorship.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED with up to four years of equivalent education, experience, and training; or currently enrolled in and working toward a degree program with up to two years of equivalent education, experience, and training; and/or a bachelor's degree.
• Ability to work across multiple shifts, including nights and/or weekends if needed.
• Willingness to travel to account, customer, and company event locations when applicable.
• Ability to anticipate, recognize, and effectively address existing or potential conflicts at the individual, group, or situation level.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and make productive decisions based on informed judgment.
• Ability to adapt to changing environments.
• Ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
• Ability to meet or exceed team and driver needs and expectations and provide excellent service directly or indirectly.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to recognize, anticipate, and resolve organizational, operational, or process problems.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree plus one year of equivalent education, experience, and training.

Responsibilities

• Learn to build and maintain professional relationships with drivers and safe, reliable outside carriers to support carrier setup, reduce turnover, and maximize productivity.
• Fill in for absent or unavailable personnel and assist with special projects to optimize fleet operations and profitability.
• Learn personnel management activities, including training and orienting drivers or employees and assisting with internal and third-party customer systems.
• Develop proficiency in improving fleet efficiency and profitability, recommending continuous improvement, measuring key performance indicators, and preparing and presenting customer-specific reports and financial analyses.
• Learn to manage inventory, assets, customer pools, and driver assignments to balance equipment in the market.
• Learn administrative duties, including payroll, Net-Revenue budget management, driver counseling, accident reviews, filing and documentation, resolving pay issues, analyzing P&L statements, invoicing, and preparing operational or financial reports.
• Learn yard management, including inspecting equipment, replacing parts, completing repairs, and coordinating scheduled preventive maintenance and safety-related repairs with maintenance personnel.
• Work with drivers, customers, and company personnel to resolve service, routing, planning, mechanical, and accessorial-pay issues, including when on call as necessary.
• Learn to maintain the company safety culture through daily safety messages, monthly briefings, quarterly driver training, annual reviews, and enforcement of policies and DOT and company safety requirements.
• Learn to assign loads and plan, route, and monitor freight to provide safe, on-time service and meet customer requirements, including managing freight exceptions and adjusting driver ETAs based on schedules and road conditions.

Benefits

• Medical benefit
• Dental benefit
• Vision benefit
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid time off commensurate with tenure, including vacation and sick time
• Six weeks of paid maternity leave
• Two weeks of paid parental leave
• Six paid holidays annually
• May be eligible for annual bonus and incentives based on profitability or volumes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level