Open Deck Specialist

Nussbaum; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life & disability insurance

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option

Health Savings Account (HSA) option

ESOP account

401(k) match

Cross-Department Networking

GrowRED Professional Development

Company Wellness Program

Rewards program

Food days monthly

Job summary

Nussbaum, located in Illinois, is seeking a motivated individual for a hybrid role where you'll support Open Deck operations and cover various positions during absences. Ideal candidates are team players with strong communication skills, eager to learn, and comfortable with financial metrics.

The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $60,000 to $85,000 annually, along with excellent benefits including life insurance, retirement options, and a wellness program.

Qualifications

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Experience in logistics, fleet planning, or transportation operations is a plus.
• Comfortable working with financial metrics and operational data.

Responsibilities

• Master daily planning, load optimization, and profitability analysis.
• Support fleet planning during absences and operational situations.
• Assist with load securement and operational problem-solving.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Self-motivated

Data-driven thinker

Team player

Flexible and adaptive

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Job description

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. We’re excited that you’re considering Nussbaum as the next step in your career! To kick it off, here’s a little about who we are:

• We are Employee Owned. All of our people receive an ownership stake in the company via our ESOP.
• We are Purpose Driven. Our goal is to make a positive impact through each interaction. Therefore, character and integrity are essential.
• We celebrate faith & family. We believe God owns this business and we’re just stewards for a season.
• Innovation is our thing. We’re bent on continuous improvement and crushing expectations. We aren’t afraid to try something new.
• We enjoy being at work. The transportation industry is hectic, but we do our best to have fun along the way.

Does that match what you’re looking for?

Now, for those job details:

This is a hybrid role that requires serious skill and a willingness to learn. You’ll split your time between supporting our Open Deck operations day-to-day and becoming the backup Planner, Driver Manager, Customer Account Coordinator who steps in during vacations, PTO, and unexpected absences. The main responsibility — learn to do these positions at a high level so coverage is seamless.

You won’t manage a dedicated fleet day-to-day (although, in the future there could be a small board of drivers with growth), but you’ll be the person who understands load sourcing, driver profitability, broker relationships, and operational problem-solving well enough to handle it all when others are out. It’s complex work — you’ll need to absorb a lot in a relatively short time.

Core responsibilities:

• Shadow our Fleet Planner to master daily planning, load optimization, and profitability analysis.
• Build expertise in broker relationships, spot market dynamics, and customer-specific requirements.
• Get comfortable with financial metrics — cost per mile, margin targets, revenue per driver per day.
• Cover fleet planning during planned absences (vacations, PTO) and unexpected operational situations.
• Support the Driver Manager, answer load questions, and help solve issues as they come up.
• Assist with load securement questions and spotting emerging operational issues.

Schedule

• Full time: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
• Location: Corporate Offices – 19336 N 1425 East Rd., Hudson IL.
• Pay range: $60,000–$85,000 annually, based on experience. See HR for more questions.
• Life & disability insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option for healthcare and childcare expenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) option for healthcare expenses
• ESOP account – company-funded supplemental retirement account (on top of the 401k).
• 401(k) match.
• Cross-Department Networking – get to know fellow employee owners through network lunches, financial workshops, serving on a committee/event team, service projects, and GrowRED activities.
• GrowRED Professional Development – earn rewards points as you engage in classes, seminars, job shadows, online trainings, and activities with fellow employee owners!
• Company Wellness Program – includes step and weight loss incentives and free add-on healthcare benefits. Earn rewards points for engaging in a healthy, active lifestyle!
• Rewards – GrowRED + Wellness points may be redeemed for gift cards, electronics, PTO days, and more!
• Food days! Every other month enjoy a free gourmet lunch served by fellow employee owners.

Job Requirements

Here’s the type of person we’re looking for:

• Character – honest, respectful, and consistent.
• Strong communication skills – written and verbal.
• Team player – mature, seeks win-win scenarios, gives/receives feedback with grace and honesty.
• Learner – always seeking to grow, both personally and professionally.
• Self-motivated – identifies new opportunities and takes initiative to solve problems.
• Hungry to learn – genuinely wants to become an expert in open deck operations.
• Flexible and adaptive – comfortable switching between learning mode and covering high-stakes decisions.
• Data-driven thinker – comfortable with numbers and making decisions based on financial data.

Experience & Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook and Excel.
• Comfort working with financial metrics and operational data.
• Strong problem-solving instincts — identifies issues and proposes solutions rather than waiting for direction.
• Collaborative working style with internal teams, brokers, and customers.
• Experience in logistics, fleet planning, or transportation operations is a plus.
• Willingness to learn fast if you don’t have direct industry experience yet.