Freight Management Trainee

Job Description

Management Trainee | Western Express

The Tone:
This is a full-time, in-person Management Trainee role at Western Express, located in Nashville, TN, where direct in-office attendance is an essential function for collaboration and swift problem-solving. Western Express is a transportation company recognized for its state-of-the-art campus, rebuilt in 2020, offering amenities such as on-site gyms and a cafeteria, alongside competitive pay, benefits, and a family-oriented culture. This role is fundamental to the company’s commitment to promoting from within, providing infinite growth potential by training individuals to become key players in freight management and future Driver Managers, upholding core values of hard work, opportunity, and incentive.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Nashville, TN
• Team: Freight Management, reporting to Leadership
• Mission: To thoroughly train across various operational roles within freight management, with a primary focus on driver support and customer interaction, in order to ensure seamless and timely freight deliveries and prepare for a leadership transition to a Driver Manager.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Driver Management: Act as the primary point of contact for a dedicated team of drivers, engaging in daily communication to ensure smooth and efficient operational workflows, proactively addressing any road-related issues, and actively supporting their professional growth and development within the Western Express organization.
• Shipment Oversight: Take responsibility for meticulously monitoring and tracking all assigned freight shipments, diligently working to confirm timely deliveries and ensure the successful completion of routes according to schedule and customer expectations.
• Safety & Compliance: Clearly articulate and reinforce safety expectations to all drivers, ensuring their strict adherence to all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, company safety policies, and best practices to maintain a secure and compliant operation.
• Inter-Departmental Collaboration: Foster effective collaboration with various internal departments, including dispatch, customer service, and maintenance, to align efforts, resolve operational hurdles, and collectively contribute to the achievement of overarching company goals and strategic initiatives.
• Operational Support: Provide crucial direct assistance to leadership on special projects as needed, demonstrate adaptability by taking on new responsibilities and tasks as they arise, and ensure the timely escalation of critical issues for prompt resolution within the freight management team.

The Must-Haves
• Background: An aspiring professional seeking an early career opportunity, committed to learning and advancing within the transportation industry, ideally possessing relevant experience in sales or management.
• Experience: A demonstrated track record of personal achievement and success, showcasing the ability to lead by example, particularly valuable in roles involving management or sales within the transportation sector.
• Skills: Possess strong problem-solving capabilities and the ability to think creatively to overcome complex operational challenges, exhibit excellent prioritization skills to effectively manage tasks in a high-volume environment, and embody a competitive “refuse-to-lose” mindset with a steadfast commitment to excellence in all tasks.
• Bonus: An Associate’s Degree is preferred for this role, although not strictly required, recognizing the value of foundational academic preparation.