Key Account Manager

1ST Choice Freight; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses / commissions based on perfom/

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

PTO and Sick leave

Job summary

1st Choice Freight is seeking a hands-on Key Account Manager to own and grow a portfolio of client accounts. You will serve as the primary daily point of contact, coordinating with carrier and sales teams to ensure smooth freight moves from tender to delivery.

The role emphasizes Truckload and Expedited shipments, with potential involvement in Drayage and LTL as you grow. You will build relationships, manage orders end-to-end, and identify opportunities for account expansion.

Qualifications

• Truckload operations experience in freight brokerage, 3PL, or carrier.
• Strong CRM and client communication skills.
• Proven problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Excellent organization and time management; proven track record of meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Own the customer relationship as the main daily contact for assigned accounts.
• Build trusted relationships with shippers, receivers, and decision-makers.
• Learn customer lanes and pain points to anticipate needs.
• Grow accounts through new lanes, modes, and services.

Skills

Truckload ops

CRM & client comms

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Fast-paced environment

Tools

Turvo TMS

Job description

Location: In-Office / Hybrid

About 1st Choice Freight

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 Key Account Manager, you'll be the main point of contact for a book of customer accounts, and the person they trust to keep their freight moving. You'll report to our Operations Manager and work closely with our carrier and sales teams to make every shipment run smoothly from tender to delivery.

The role focuses mainly on Truckload and Expedite shipments, with chances to work on Drayage 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 that grow them.

What You'll Do

Own the customer relationship

• Serve as the primary daily point of contact for assigned key customer accounts
• Build trusted relationships with shippers, receivers, and decision-makers at every level
• Learn each customer's business, lanes, and pain points well enough to anticipate what they need before they ask
• Find opportunities to grow existing accounts through new lanes, modes, and services

Execute with precision

• Manage orders end to end, from building the order, to scheduling and communicating updates.
• Respond to customer requests, quotes, and updates quickly and professionally
• Proactively communicate shipment status, delays, and exceptions, so customers hear it from you first
• Keep order details in our TMS accurate and complete

Solve problems

• Resolve service issues, delays, and disputes quickly and fairly
• Create solutions for complex, time-sensitive, or unusual shipments
• Work with the carrier team to communicate needs on urgent shipments
• Spot recurring issues and recommend process improvements to the Operations Manager

Thrive in the pace

• Juggle multiple shipments and priorities in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment
• Stay calm and solutions-focused when plans change at the last minute

What You Bring

Required

• Truckload operations experience at a freight brokerage, 3PL, or carrier
• Strong customer relationship management and client 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 Expedite, Drayage, 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