Manager Trainee, May 2027

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. • Lansing, MI

2d • $46,100 - $61,100

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, timely freight movement, load assignment, customer service, and compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and company requirements. The position works with internal and external contacts to plan, route, monitor, and deliver freight and loads accurately.

The trainee develops skills in driver and carrier relations, fleet operations, personnel management, customer reporting, inventory and asset management, administrative and financial duties, yard and equipment management, safety programs, and freight planning. The role may involve filling in for other personnel, working across shifts as needed, and traveling to account, customer, and company event locations when applicable. The expected starting pay range is $46,100–$61,100. The position may also be eligible for annual bonuses and incentives under 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; and/or currently enrolled and working toward a degree, 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.
• Prior internship training.

Responsibilities

• Learn to build and maintain professional relationships with drivers and safe, reliable outside carriers; support new-carrier setup, reduce turnover, and promote productivity.
• Fill in for absent or unavailable personnel and work on special projects related to fleet optimization and profitability.
• Learn personnel management practices, 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 improvements, measuring key performance indicators, and preparing and presenting customer-specific reports and financial analyses, including through in-person customer interactions.
• 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, documentation, resolving pay issues, P&L analysis, invoicing, and operational or financial reporting.
• Learn yard management, including inspecting equipment, replacing parts, completing repairs, and coordinating scheduled preventive maintenance and repair of safety-related mechanical issues for account equipment as required.
• Work with drivers, customers, and company personnel to resolve service, routing, planning, mechanical, and accessorial-pay issues as they arise, including when on call where necessary.
• Learn to maintain the company’s safety culture through daily driver safety messages, monthly safety briefings, quarterly driver training, annual reviews, and enforcement of company policies and DOT and company safety requirements.
• Learn to assign loads and plan, route, and monitor freight movement to provide safe, on-time service and meet customer requirements, including handling 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
• Position may be eligible for annual bonus and incentives based on profitability or volumes, subject to applicable company plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED