Driver Leader

Position PurposeThe Driver Leader is responsible for the day-to-day experience, communication, performance, and productivity of an assigned group of professional drivers. This position serves as the driver's primary point of contact while ensuring expectations for safety, service, time management, fuel efficiency, and operational performance are consistently met.Success in this role requires building strong relationships with drivers while maintaining accountability. The Driver Leader should know what is happening with their drivers, communicate proactively, identify problems early, and help drivers maximize productive time, miles, and earnings.Key ResponsibilitiesDriver Leadership & ExperienceServe as the primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned drivers.Build strong driver relationships through consistent, proactive communication and follow-through.Understand each driver's performance, available hours, home-time needs, equipment status, and operational challenges.Create a positive driver experience by ensuring drivers feel informed, supported, respected, and connected to Meiborg.Identify driver frustrations or concerns early and work with appropriate departments to resolve them.Coach drivers on performance, communication, trip planning, company expectations, and problem-solving.Recognize strong performance while addressing performance or accountability concerns promptly.Support new drivers through onboarding and their transition into daily operations.Time, Productivity & Operational EfficiencyActively manage driver availability and Hours of Service to maximize productive driving time.Monitor driver location, available hours, ETAs, home time, maintenance needs, and equipment status.Coordinate with Planning to maximize loaded miles, minimize unnecessary deadhead, and reduce avoidable downtime.Manage home-time schedules to meet driver commitments while minimizing lost productivity before and after home time.Monitor and coach toward company performance goals, including:$5,700 revenue per truck per week2,650 average miles per driver per week7.5 MPG5–6 loads per week, based on freight and operating conditionsOn-time pickup and delivery performanceIdentify lost time or inefficiencies caused by poor trip planning, extended stops, communication gaps, routing, or other preventable issues.Fuel & Cost EfficiencyCoach drivers on fuel-efficient driving, routing, idle time, speed, and trip-planning habits.Monitor MPG and unnecessary idle time and address negative trends with drivers.Help drivers understand how their driving behaviors and decisions affect fuel consumption and operating costs.Use performance data to coach improvement and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary miles, downtime, and expense.Driver Accountability & ComplianceHold drivers accountable for on-time pickups and deliveries, timely communication, trip planning, equipment care, and company procedures.Coach drivers on effective use of Motive, ETA updates, home-time requests, and Hours of Service planning.Ensure trucks and trailers are appropriately routed for maintenance, wet services, repairs, and DOT inspections.Reinforce pre-trip/post-trip inspections and proactive reporting of equipment concerns.Ensure PODs and accessorial documentation are submitted accurately and timely.Encourage drivers to take ownership, communicate problems early, and participate in finding solutions.Communication & CollaborationMaintain clear, frequent communication with drivers through phone, text, email, Motive, and other company systems.Clearly communicate load instructions, appointments, customer expectations, schedule changes, and operational needs.Coordinate with Planning, Customer Service, Safety, Maintenance, Payroll, Recruiting, and night/weekend Operations to provide drivers with consistent support.Maintain accurate driver records, mapping, notes, ETAs, available hours, and home-time information.Provide thorough handoffs to night and weekend Operations to minimize driver downtime and communication gaps.Qualifications & Skills3+ years of transportation, trucking, dispatch, fleet management, driver management, or related experience preferred.High school diploma or GED required; degree in transportation, logistics, business, or related field preferred.Strong understanding of trucking operations, Hours of Service, trip planning, and driver utilization.Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.Ability to build trust while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.Strong coaching, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills.Excellent organization, time management, and follow-through.Ability to manage multiple drivers and priorities in a fast-paced environment.Comfortable using KPIs and performance data to coach and improve results.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesProvides day-to-day leadership, coaching, performance management, and accountability for assigned drivers. Works with the Operations Manager and Human Resources on formal corrective action and employment decisions as appropriate.Physical RequirementsProlonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.Frequent communication by phone and mobile device.Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.Ability to walk operational areas and climb stairs.Ability to provide remote or after-hours support as business needs require.BenefitsMedical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription coveragePaid Time Off401(k) with company matchCompany-paid chiropractic careShort-Term DisabilityLife InsuranceCompany ImpactThe Driver Leader directly impacts driver retention, productivity, customer service, fuel expense, equipment utilization, and revenue. By building strong driver relationships while maintaining clear expectations and accountability, this role helps drivers succeed and ensures Meiborg operates safely, efficiently, and profitably.