Manager Trainee

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefit

Dental benefit

Vision benefit

401(k) retirement plan

Life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

Paid time off

Six weeks paid maternity leave

Two weeks paid parental leave

Six paid holidays

Job summary

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, IA seeks a Manager Trainee to learn managing a small driver group, including nights/weekends, ensuring safe and timely freight movement and excellent customer service.

The role trains on DOT compliance, driver oversight, and performance metrics while supporting fleet operations and related administrative duties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field or management/logistics experience.
• Willingness to travel to account locations when applicable.
• Ability to work across multiple shifts, including nights/weekends.
• Willingness to relocate regionally based on assignment.
• Experience in transportation/logistics management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with drivers and outside carriers for smooth setup.
• Fill in for absent personnel and work on projects to optimize fleet operations.
• Train drivers and staff, and assist with internal/3rd party systems.
• Maximize fleet efficiency, measure KPIs, and present financial analyses.
• Manage inventory, assets, and driver assignment to balance equipment.
• Handle payroll, budgets, invoicing, and prepare operational reports.
• Manage yard operations including inspections and maintenance coordination.
• Resolve service issues, routing, pay matters, and on-call challenges.
• Maintain safety culture and enforce DOT compliance.
• Assign loads, plan routes, monitor movement, and adjust ETAs.

Skills

Travel willingness

Shift flexibility

Relocation willingness

Analytical skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Management/Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain

GED or High School Diploma with 1 year of related management/logistics experience

Job description

Job Title: Manager Trainee

Department: Supply Chain

Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States

Employment Type: Full time

Job Summary

Under general supervision, this position is responsible for learning the management of a small driver count and/or non-traditional shifts (including nights and weekends), ensuring safe and timely movement of freight, load assignment, and providing best-in-class customer service. The role will be trained to ensure compliance with DOT regulations and oversee all drivers' compliance with company regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain positive professional relationships with drivers and reliable outside carriers to ensure seamless carrier set‑up, minimize turnover, and maximize productivity.
• Fill in for absent or unavailable personnel and work on special projects related to optimizing fleet operations and achieving profitability.
• Utilize personnel management skills including training, orientation of drivers and employees, and assistance with internal and third‑party systems.
• Maximize fleet efficiency and profitability, make recommendations for continuous improvement, measure KPIs, and create and present customer‑specific reporting and financial analysis.
• Manage inventory, assets, customer pools, and driver assignment to balance equipment in the market.
• Perform administrative duties such as payroll, net‑revenue budget management, driver counseling, accident reviews, filing and documentation, pay issue resolution, P&L analysis, invoicing, and creating operational or financial reports.
• Manage yard operations: inspect equipment, replace parts, coordinate repairs, and ensure scheduled preventative maintenance.
• Resolve service issues, routing, mechanical problems, accessorial pay matters, and other challenges throughout the day and when on call.
• Maintain the company’s safety culture: deliver daily safety messages, monthly briefings, quarterly trainings, annual reviews, and enforce DOT compliance.
• Assign loads, plan, route, monitor freight movement, manage exceptions and ETA adjustments to meet customer requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Transportation/Logistics, Supply Chain, or related field.
• OR High School Diploma/GED with 1 year of experience in management, transportation/logistics, business administration, account management, or related field, and/or equivalent military experience.
• Willingness to travel to account, customer, and company event locations when applicable.
• Ability to work across multiple shifts, including nights and/or weekends.
• Willingness to relocate regionally dependent on account assignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing a team.
• Ability to anticipate, recognize, and manage conflicts.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgment.
• Adaptability to changing environments.
• Excellent relationship‑building with clients, vendors, and peers.
• Capable of meeting or exceeding team/driver needs and delivering excellent service.
• Effective communication and interpretation skills.
• Problem‑solving in organizational and operational contexts.

Education

• Bachelor’s: Business Administration/Management
• Bachelor’s: Supply Chain Management
• Bachelor’s: Transportation Logistics
• GED (Required)
• High School (Required)

Work Experience

• Business Administration, Customer Service/Account Manager, Management‑Entry Level, Transportation/Logistics experience.

Certifications

• Not specified.

Benefits

• Medical benefit
• Dental benefit
• Vision benefit
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life insurance
• Short‑term and long‑term disability coverage
• Paid time off (vacation and sick time)
• Six weeks paid maternity leave and two weeks paid parental leave
• Six paid holidays annually

EEO Statement

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. is committed to basing employment decisions on the principles of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, persons with disabilities, protected veterans or other bases by applicable law.

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.