Carrier Sales Representative

  • Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • Full-Time
  • On-Site
  • 45,000-60,000 USD / Year

Job Description:

Job Title: Carrier Sales Representative

Location: Chicago, IL — On-site
Pay: $45,000 – $60,000 base plus commission, based on experience
Type: Permanent | Full-Time


Job Summary:

The Carrier Sales Representative is responsible for sourcing, qualifying, and managing carrier relationships to support a growing book of freight across temperature-controlled, dry van, and specialized lanes. This role sits at the intersection of sales and operations — building a reliable carrier network while ensuring capacity is available when customers need it most. Strong performers in this role are competitive, relationship-driven, and thrive in a high-call-volume environment.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Source and onboard qualified carriers through outbound prospecting, load boards, and referral networks
  • Negotiate rates with carriers on spot and contracted lanes to meet margin targets
  • Build long-term carrier partnerships by consistently delivering fair rates, reliable freight, and responsive communication
  • Cover freight loads by matching available carrier capacity to active shipments in real time
  • Maintain accurate carrier profiles and performance data in the TMS
  • Collaborate with operations and account management teams to ensure capacity meets customer commitments
  • Meet or exceed weekly and monthly call volume, load coverage, and margin targets

Must-Haves / Requirements:

  • 1+ years of experience in carrier sales, freight brokerage, or transportation sales
  • Demonstrated ability to prospect and build new relationships through outbound outreach
  • Comfort with high call volume and fast-paced negotiations
  • Strong problem-solving ability and follow-through under pressure
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and standard CRM or TMS tools

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight
  • Familiarity with DAT, Truckstop, or similar load board platforms
  • Track record of hitting or exceeding sales or margin targets in a brokerage environment

Screening Questions:

  1. How many outbound calls did you average per day in your most recent carrier sales or freight brokerage role?
  2. Have you worked with temperature-controlled or refrigerated freight lanes? If so, what types of carriers and commodities were involved?
  3. Walk me through how you typically identify and onboard a new carrier partner from first contact to first covered load.