Account Manager

First Search Inc.; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

First Search Inc. in Plymouth, MI, is seeking an experienced Account Manager to oversee major customer relationships in automotive transportation and logistics. You will collaborate with operations, pricing, and third-party brokers to ensure service excellence and drive revenue growth.

The role requires strong communication, problem-solving, and the ability to coordinate across teams, with a focus on achieving SLA targets and delivering value to OEMs, auctions, and dealer networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a minimum of five years of relevant customer service or account management experience.
• Strong understanding of transportation and logistics operations, particularly automotive transportation and car hauling.
• Experience managing customer relationships and resolving complex service or operational issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple accounts and competing priorities.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to evaluate situations and recommend practical solutions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience working with transportation management, routing, or dispatching systems.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage key customer relationships and act as primary contact between customers, internal operations teams, and third-party transportation brokers.
• Proactively address customer concerns, resolve service issues, and ensure timely communication.
• Build relationships with customer stakeholders to understand transportation needs and identify improvements.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts, increase revenue, and improve profitability.
• Coordinate with teams on RFQs, pricing requests, and customer proposals.
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and regular customer meetings with clear action items.
• Provide customers with timely updates regarding shipments and service changes.
• Document customer interactions and account activity in Salesforce.

Skills

Account management

Customer relationships

Logistics operations

Communication

Analytical thinking

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Salesforce

CRM systems

Excel

Job description

Account Manager - Automotive Transportation & Logistics

Location: Plymouth, MI

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a transportation and logistics company seeking an experienced Account Manager to oversee key customer relationships, drive account growth, and ensure exceptional service delivery.

This position is ideal for someone who understands the automotive transportation industry, particularly car hauling, and enjoys building relationships, solving problems, and working across multiple teams to deliver results.

The Account Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customers, including OEMs, auctions, and dealer networks. This individual will work closely with operations, pricing, and third-party transportation partners to manage day-to-day account needs, improve service performance, and identify opportunities for revenue growth.

What You'll Do

Account Management & Customer Relationships

• Manage and strengthen relationships with key customers, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and retention.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between customers, internal operations teams, and third-party transportation brokers.
• Proactively address customer concerns, resolve service issues, and ensure timely communication.
• Build relationships with customer stakeholders to better understand their transportation needs and identify opportunities for improvement.

Revenue Growth & Profitability

• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts, increase revenue, and improve profitability.
• Evaluate spot-buy opportunities and recommend competitive pricing that supports business growth and margin objectives.
• Partner with internal teams to develop transportation solutions that meet customer requirements.

Operations & Service Performance

• Work closely with operations, terminals, regional managers, and transportation partners to ensure customer expectations are met.
• Monitor inventory levels, vehicle dwell times, ground counts, and on-hold inventory.
• Identify potential service delays and coordinate solutions to maintain service-level agreement (SLA) compliance.
• Investigate service discrepancies, quality concerns, and transportation-related issues, working with appropriate teams to implement corrective actions.
• Review customer KPI reports, identify performance trends, and address areas requiring improvement.
• Coordinate with claims management teams to resolve customer issues efficiently.

Pricing, Bids & Business Reviews

• Manage RFQ opportunities and track bid activity within Salesforce.
• Collaborate with the Pricing team on spot buys, special transportation requests, and customer proposals.
• Follow up on submitted bids and maintain accurate records of opportunities and account activity.
• Prepare and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), presenting account performance, service metrics, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations for future growth.
• Schedule and lead regular customer meetings, including preparing agendas, documenting discussions, and following up on action items.
• Provide customers with timely updates regarding shipments, service concerns, and operational changes.
• Maintain regular communication with internal stakeholders regarding account performance, urgent issues, and customer priorities.
• Document customer interactions, meeting notes, and account activity within Salesforce.
• Work collaboratively across departments to deliver effective solutions for complex transportation needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or a minimum of five years of relevant customer service or account management experience.
• Strong understanding of transportation and logistics operations, particularly automotive transportation and car hauling.
• Experience managing customer relationships and resolving complex service or operational issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple accounts and competing priorities.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to evaluate situations and recommend practical solutions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience working with transportation management, routing, or dispatching systems.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with automotive OEMs, auctions, dealer networks, or third-party transportation brokers.
• Background in automotive logistics, carrier management, or vehicle remarketing.
• Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM system.
• Experience managing RFQs, pricing requests, customer KPIs, and Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Familiarity with vehicle inventory management, dwell times, and transportation service-level agreements.