Early Career Rotational Leadership Development Program - Capacity Operations

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Company-sponsored programs

Job summary

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. is launching the Capacity Solutions LEAD Program in Cedar Rapids to develop future leaders in commercial and operations roles.

You'll rotate through key areas, gain hands-on experience with customers, carriers, sales and analytics, and learn how CRST makes money and drives profitable growth. Participants will build leadership and data-driven decision skills, with mentorship and increasing responsibility as you progress, positioning you for roles across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, accountability or increasing responsibility through work, internships, athletics, campus involvement or other experiences.
• Interest in sales, freight brokerage, transportation, logistics and business operations.
• Comfort working toward goals and using metrics to measure performance.
• Ability to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• Resilience, curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Build experience across brokerage operations, carrier capacity, sales, customer management, pricing and analytics
• Develop relationships with customers and carriers while learning what drives successful partnerships
• Support sales and business development activities, including prospecting, outreach and relationship building
• Use data and reporting to evaluate performance, identify opportunities and support business decisions
• Learn how pricing, margins, service and capacity decisions impact profitability
• Track goals and key performance indicators to understand individual and business performance
• Partner across teams to solve customer and operational challenges
• Take on projects and assignments with increasing responsibility as you progress through the program
• Build communication, decision-making and people-leadership skills through hands‑on experience and mentorship

Skills

Strong communication, relationship‑buy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Management, Finance, Data Analytics or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Start Your Career. Learn the Business. Build What’s Next.

CRST’s LEAD Program is designed for high-potential early-career professionals who want more than an entry-level job. It’s an opportunity to learn how a transportation business operates, build commercial and leadership skills and take on increasing responsibility as you grow.

Within Capacity Solutions, you’ll gain hands‑on experience across freight brokerage, carrier capacity, customer relationships, sales, pricing and analytics. You’ll learn how we win business, build capacity, make decisions and drive profitable growth while developing the skills to become a future leader at CRST.

If you’re energized by goals, comfortable starting conversations and interested in the intersection of sales, operations and leadership, this program was built for you.

How You’ll Work

• Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Work Arrangement: Onsite
• Program: Rotational leadership development program
• Compensation: Competitive compensation package. Additional details will be discussed with qualified candidates during the interview process.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement savings, paid time off, and other company-sponsored programs.
• Relocation: Future relocation may be considered based on rotation, career progression and business needs
• Development: Hands‑on rotations, leadership exposure, mentorship and ongoing professional development

About The Program

The Capacity Solutions LEAD Program is designed to build future leaders who understand both the commercial and operational sides of freight brokerage.

You’ll rotate through key areas of the business, developing experience with customers, carriers, sales, and operations. Along the way, you’ll learn how Capacity Solutions makes money, how strong relationships translate into business results, and how data and disciplined execution influence performance.

As you progress, so will your responsibility. You’ll have opportunities to solve real business challenges, work alongside experienced leaders and build the foundation for a future career in commercial, operational or people leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Build experience across brokerage operations, carrier capacity, sales, customer management, pricing and analytics
• Develop relationships with customers and carriers while learning what drives successful partnerships
• Support sales and business development activities, including prospecting, outreach and relationship building
• Use data and reporting to evaluate performance, identify opportunities and support business decisions
• Learn how pricing, margins, service and capacity decisions impact profitability
• Track goals and key performance indicators to understand individual and business performance
• Partner across teams to solve customer and operational challenges
• Take on projects and assignments with increasing responsibility as you progress through the program
• Build communication, decision-making and people-leadership skills through hands‑on experience and mentorship

What Great Looks Like

You don’t need years of transportation experience to succeed here. We’re looking for someone with the curiosity, energy and drive to learn the business and grow into leadership.

You’ll Thrive In This Program If You

• Enjoy meeting new people and building relationships
• Are motivated by goals, measurable results and accountability
• Have the confidence to start conversations and the persistence to keep going when the answer is no
• Balance strong people skills with attention to data, details and follow-through
• Are curious about how businesses grow, compete and make money
• Enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment where priorities can change
• Take ownership of your work and look for opportunities to improve
• Want to build a career that combines sales, operations and leadership

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree
• Strong communication, relationship-building and organizational skills
• Demonstrated leadership, accountability or increasing responsibility through work, internships, athletics, campus involvement or other experiences
• Interest in sales, freight brokerage, transportation, logistics and business operations
• Comfort working toward goals and using metrics to measure performance
• Ability to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Resilience, curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn

Preferred Experience

We’d especially like to meet candidates who bring one or more of the following:

• Sales, business development, recruiting, fundraising, account management or customer service experience
• Internship or work experience in logistics, operations, supply chain, retail or hospitality
• Leadership experience through work, athletics, student organizations or campus activities
• Exposure to pricing, financial analysis, data analytics or Excel
• Experience working while completing your degree
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Management, Finance, Data Analytics or a related field

Where LEAD Can Take You

LEAD is designed to prepare you for more than your first role at CRST.

Throughout the program, you’ll build a broad understanding of Capacity Solutions while gaining increasing exposure to leaders, customers, carriers and important business decisions. Your experiences will help identify where your strengths and interests align with CRST’s future needs.

Successful participants will be positioned for future opportunities in areas such as sales, brokerage operations, account management, carrier capacity, commercial strategy or people leadership, based on individual performance, strengths and business needs.

Why CRST?

CRST has spent 70 years building a transportation company driven by grit, growth and forward momentum. Our Capacity Solutions business helps customers solve complex transportation needs by connecting the right freight with the right capacity, supported by strong relationships, smart decisions and disciplined execution.

Through LEAD, you won’t be watching the business from the sidelines. You’ll be learning it firsthand, building relationships and developing the skills to help lead what comes next.

Core Values

• Safety at the Core of All We Do – We prioritize the wellbeing of our employees, customers, agents, contractors and communities in every decision
• Integrity in Every Decision and Action – We operate with transparency, honesty and accountability
• Commitment to the Success of Employees, Customers, Agents, Contractors and Communities – We’re invested in the success of everyone we work with and the communities we serve

Equal Opportunity Employer

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. The Company prohibits unlawful discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, religious practices, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, reproductive health decision-making, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and related conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military status, veteran status, marital status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.