Drayage Account Manager

1ST Choice Freight; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses/commissions based on appraisal

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PTO and Sick leave

Job summary

1st Choice Freight is seeking a Drayage Account Manager in Chicago to own cradle-to-grave drayage accounts, serving as the main contact for customers and carriers. You will grow the carrier network with the Capacity Manager and work with the sales team to expand accounts.

The role focuses on port/rail drayage with opportunities in Truckload, Transload, and LTL as you grow. It requires hands-on account leadership, relationship building, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Drayage or intermodal operations experience in freight brokerage or 3PL.
• Experience handling both customers and carriers in cradle-to-grave roles.
• Knowledge of container terms and processes: last free day, per diem, demurrage, chassis, and customs holds.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management abilities.
• Excellent organization and deadline discipline.

Responsibilities

• Own the customer relationship as the daily contact for assigned drayage accounts.
• Source, negotiate, and dispatch drayage carriers for moves.
• Work with Capacity Manager to expand the carrier network and fill gaps in coverage.
• Manage end-to-end container moves: quoting, entering orders, tracking ETAs, booking, and delivery.
• Communicate status and updates quickly to customers; handle delays and exceptions.
• Resolve issues and coordinate pre-pulls, yard storage, and overweight or hazmat moves.

Skills

Drayage experience

Customer management

Carrier management

Negotiation

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Tools

Turvo TMS

Job description

Every load tells a story about the company behind it, and at 1st Choice Freight we make sure it's a good one. We're a fast-growing 3PL built on a simple idea: customers and carriers deserve a partner who picks up the phone, owns the problem, and gets the freight where it needs to go.

We're growing quickly, and we're looking for driven people who take ownership and want their work to make a visible difference. If you want a place where your effort is noticed, your ideas are heard, and your career can grow as fast as you can, you'll fit in here.

The Role

As a Drayage Account Manager, you'll own your drayage accounts cradle to grave. You'll be the main point of contact for both the customer and the carriers on every move, from the first quote to the empty return. You'll work closely with our Capacity Manager to grow and strengthen our drayage carrier network, and with our sales team to grow your accounts.

The role focuses mainly on port and rail drayage, with chances to work on Truckload, Transload, and LTL as you grow. This is a hands-on job: you'll run the daily work on your accounts and also build the relationships, on both sides of the load, that grow them.

What You'll Do

Own the customer relationship

• Serve as the primary daily point of contact for assigned drayage customer accounts
• Build trusted relationships with importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and decision-makers at every level
• Learn each customer's business, ports, rail ramps, and pain points well enough to anticipate what they need before they ask
• Find opportunities to grow existing accounts through new ports, lanes, transload, and over-the-road services

Own the carrier relationship

• Source, negotiate, and dispatch drayage carriers on your moves
• Build a reliable group of go-to drayage carriers who know your customers and their requirements
• Work with the Capacity Manager to add new drayage carriers in key ports and rail ramps, and to fill gaps in coverage
• Hold carriers accountable for on-time pickups, appointments, empty returns, and accurate paperwork
• Share carrier performance feedback with the Capacity Manager to keep the network strong

Execute with precision, cradle to grave

• Manage every container move end to end: quoting, order entry, tracking vessel and rail ETAs, confirming availability, booking terminal appointments, dispatching, delivery, and empty return
• Watch last free days, customs and freight holds, and per diem windows so containers move before costs pile up
• Respond to customer requests, quotes, and updates quickly and professionally
• Proactively communicate container status, delays, and exceptions, so customers hear it from you first
• Keep order details, container numbers, and accessorial charges in our TMS accurate and complete

Solve problems

• Resolve service issues, delays, and disputes quickly and fairly with both customers and carriers, including demurrage, detention, chassis, and storage charges
• Plan and coordinate pre-pulls, yard storage, and overweight or hazmat moves when needed
• Secure capacity on urgent or hard-to-cover moves
• Spot recurring issues and recommend process improvements to leadership

Thrive in the pace

• Handle multiple containers, terminals, carriers, and deadlines in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment

What You Bring

Required

• Drayage or intermodal operations experience at a freight brokerage, 3PL, forwarder, or trucking company
• Experience managing both customers and carriers, ideally in a cradle-to-grave role
• Working knowledge of container terms and processes: last free day, per diem, demurrage, chassis, terminal appointments, and customs holds
• Strong negotiation, relationship management, and communication skills
• Proven problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities
• Excellent organization and time management, with a track record of meeting deadlines
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Preferred

• Experience with Truckload, Transload, or LTL is a bonus
• Experience growing accounts or supporting business development
• Familiarity with a brokerage TMS (Turvo experience is a plus)

Why 1st Choice Freight

• A growing company where your impact is visible and recognized
• Room to advance as the team and the business grow
• A team-first culture built on ownership, hustle, and doing right by our customers
• Eligible for bonuses/commissions based on performance
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance; PTO and Sick leave plans