Route Sales

General Sales Associate

Position at Road Equipment

Job Overview

The General Sales Associate role supports the branch as a front-line salesperson and coordinates and oversees field sales and mid-level projects. This role will provide extensive support to branch operations, acting with little supervision, anticipating needs while managing the day-to-day workflow, and prioritizing various projects. This role will have in-depth product knowledge and best practices of successful customer service. This role is responsible for maximizing results by building and maintaining customer relationships to grow sales, gross profit margin, and overall profitability.

Core Functions

• Product Knowledge
• Continually grow technical, product, and application knowledge of parts essential to the heavy-duty vehicle aftermarket and keep current on new products and product updates to answer customer questions.
• Suggest sale of related parts when identical replacements are not available.
• Effectively communicate features, benefits, and warranty policy information to customers.
• Learn all facets of the heavy-duty truck and trailer parts industry.
• Customer Service
• Advise customers and answer questions about products, prices, availability, and product features.
• Maintain consistent and clear communication with customers both in-person and electronically (phone and email).
• Engage customers to determine immediate and long-term needs.
• Build customer accounts through open and interactive communication.
• Handle customer complaints, provide appropriate solutions and alternatives within the time limits; follow up to ensure resolution.
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between Road Equipment Parts Center and its customers.
• Sales and Account Management
• Acquire new customers and establish new accounts.
• Maximize sales and gross profit within a defined territory and ensure sales goals are met.
• Identify opportunities for customers' future needs to drive sales.
• Leverage sales force automation tools to identify opportunities within accounts.
• Communicating opportunities and challenges to management.
• Operations Support
• Pull and prepare orders for customer pick up or delivery.
• Safely operates company vehicles to complete customer deliveries, core and return pick-ups.
• Verify order accuracy at delivery (part numbers, quantities, condition, etc.).
• Maintain vehicle cleanliness and perform routine inspections.
• Assist with inventory processing of incoming stock.
• Provide quotes to customers for trailer and power unit parts.
• Assist with the organization of the parts room and staging.
• Assist with part number labels.
• Manage returns and core credits accurately.
• Support with emergency or rush delivery needs.
• Identify stock opportunities and customer locations.

Competencies and Qualifications

• High School Diploma (or GED) is required.
• Associates degree in Sales, Marketing, and/or Business, OR 3-5 years of sales, customer service, heavy-duty truck and trailer equipment sales, automotive parts sales or related industry experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of commercial driving experience.
• 18 years of age or older to operate a CMV for intrastate commerce.
• 21 years of age or older to operate a CMV for interstate commerce.
• Proficient in English.
• Hold a valid, unrestricted driver's license.
• Current motor vehicle driving record with no more than 3 traffic violations within 3 years.
• No serious or major violations (i.e., reckless driving, impaired driving, etc.) within 5 years.
• No at-fault accidents within the last 3 years.
• Ability to obtain a Chauffeur's License, DOT Card, and pass an MVR, if needed.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite products with the ability to conduct basic database tasks in Excel.
• Experience with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and/or sales force automation tools preferred.
• Proven ability to make and maintain sales and customer accounts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide personable and professional customer service.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and time management skills.
• Strong active listening and strategic influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with all levels of internal and external personnel.
• Ability to stay adaptable to changing environments and tasks.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift/carry 100 lbs. on deliveries.
• Travel required: 80% (local travel within the workday).

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer as well as driving on the road.