Driver Manager
Ashley Furniture IndustriesBuild Your Career with Ashley Furniture – Where Innovation Meets Comfort Who We Are At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, we’re more than a business…we’re family. We’re problem solvers with the grit to persevere during challenging times and innovators who won't coast when times are good. We create solutions, not excuses, and never settle for the status quo. It’s the reason we’re always searching for better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. That's why Ashley Furniture is #1 in our industry. If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. Ashley Furniture has a Growth Mindset , and once you join our team, you'll learn from the best in the business. If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board. Summary The Driver Manager is responsible for managing daily activities of a group of professional drivers (“Ambassadors”) to ensure safe, on-time, and cost-effective transportation service. This role serves as the primary point of contact for assigned drivers, providing direction, support, and performance management while ensuring compliance with DOT/FMCSA regulations and company policies. The Driver Manager balances service, safety, and productivity by monitoring driver performance, managing hours of service (HOS), resolving issues, and coordinating closely with dispatch, planning, customer service, and operations teams. Responsibilities Driver Management & Support Serve as the primary liaison for assigned drivers, providing daily direction, support, and communication. Build strong relationships with drivers based on trust, respect, and consistent follow-through. Monitor driver performance, including on-time delivery, safety, HOS compliance, productivity, and customer service. Conduct regular check-ins with drivers to review performance, address concerns, and provide coaching. Assist with driver onboarding, orientation, and ongoing training initiatives. Support driver retention by addressing issues promptly and recognizing strong performance. Planning, Dispatch & Execution Work closely with dispatch and planning teams to align driver assignments with available capacity and service requirements. Ensure drivers understand load details, routes, appointment windows, and special instructions. Monitor load progress and proactively address delays, breakdowns, weather disruptions, or other service-impacting events. Adjust plans as needed to maintain service performance while respecting HOS and safety requirements. Help optimize driver utilization by minimizing empty miles, maximizing miles per day, and balancing work across the fleet. Safety & Compliance Ensure driver adherence to DOT/FMCSA regulations including HOS, ELD usage, vehicle inspections, and driver qualification requirements. Promote a safety-first culture and reinforce safe driving behaviors in all interactions. Review safety performance including accidents, incidents, violations, and near-misses; support corrective action plans. Coordinate with Safety, HR, and Fleet Maintenance on issues involving compliance, training, or disciplinary action. Verify that drivers complete required pre-trip/post-trip inspections and report equipment defects promptly. Issue Resolution & Customer Service Serve as a point of escalation for driver- or load-related issues impacting customers or operations. Support resolution of service failures, appointment issues, detention, or access challenges. Communicate key service updates, delays, and resolution plans to internal stakeholders (Customer Service, Operations, Sales). Assist drivers with on-the-road issues by coordinating with dispatch, maintenance, and other support functions. Performance Monitoring & Reporting Track key metrics for assigned drivers such as on-time performance, miles, fuel usage, idle time, out…