Lead Driver

Lead Truck Driver

The Lead Truck Driver is a skilled craft position that combines the responsibilities of a construction CDL truck driver with leadership duties overseeing transportation operations, safety, and communication. This position hauls soil, gravel, and other aggregate materials while supervising drivers and dispatchers, supporting accurate truck tickets, ensuring DOT compliance, and serving as a key point of contact between drivers, field personnel, and management.

Whitaker Holdings is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) family of companies with over 70 years of experience in heavy civil construction, underground utilities, and telecommunications. Whitaker Holdings encompasses multiple companies, including Whitaker Construction, DasCo of Idaho, Advanced Cable Technology, and Bighorn Traffic Services. Operating across Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, and beyond, our companies are united by four core values — Value Safety, Embrace Ownership, Be Honorable, and Elevate Team — which guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we deliver quality results on some of the most challenging projects in the region.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Including but not limited to the list below.

• Drive a dump truck with various trailer combinations to haul soil, gravel, and other aggregate materials to and from job sites as dispatched, working a full day alongside the drivers you lead.
• Facilitate safety meetings specific to the daily needs of truck drivers.
• Regularly review Smith Driving principles discussed in recent trainings.
• Help facilitate effective pre-trip walkarounds with each driver as needed.
• Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on trucks pursuant to DOT regulations.
• Act as the point of contact for project personnel, taking phone calls and other communications from field personnel and relaying information to each of the trucks, including subcontractors.
• Serve as the point of communication between the Transportation Manager and drivers during the day.
• Assist with the accuracy of trucking tickets, and gather and turn in tickets for drivers as needed.
• Make yourself available to other drivers to answer questions regarding tracking and billing.
• Work with the Transportation Manager and Project Engineers to ensure accuracy in truck tickets.
• Monitor the efficiency of each driver and report any issues to the Transportation Manager, including concerns for both Whitaker drivers and subcontractors.
• Schedule and coordinate daily truck schedules.
• Supervise dispatchers and drivers, managing performance based on established KPIs with an emphasis on safety, productivity, efficiency, and service delivery.
• Implement and monitor weekly reports to ensure financial objectives are met.
• Develop management reports for net-revenue budget, analyze P&L statements, and create operational or financial reports.
• Ensure the achievement of OSHA-related targets for recordable incidents and lost time incidents.
• Ensure all trucks are DOT legal, maintaining current registration, permits, IFTA, etc.
• Maintain a firm understanding of federal and state DOT regulations and laws, and keep DOT records current and accurate.
• Keep vendor packets and contract records with leasers and vendors up to date.
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures for efficient transportation operations.
• Promote the company's safety culture; conduct driver safety briefings, quarterly training, and annual reviews to ensure DOT compliance and company safety requirements are met.
• Ensure regular preventative maintenance services are scheduled on time and safety-related mechanical issues are addressed promptly.
• Handle large volumes of phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate a strong ability to ascertain and implement solutions when issues arise with vendors, customers, and employees.
• Comply with all safety policies, procedures, and standards of safety.
• Observe all traffic laws.
• Be flexible with schedule and location changes, as well as shift time changes.
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned by supervisors.

Skills and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED preferred. A Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business Administration, or a related discipline is also preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Any vocational training is strongly desired.
• Those with an education and/or work-related credential from a secondary or post-secondary educational system will be given preferred interview status (Precision Exams, NOCTE, etc.).
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in the transportation industry.
• Must hold a Class A CDL.
• Must hold a valid Medical Card per Department of Transportation (DOT) standards.
• A clean driving record is required.
• Must abide by all DOT requirements for commercial motor vehicle operations.
• Working knowledge of DOT and IFTA guidelines.
• Must have maneuvering and backing skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective time and resource management.
• Proactive in identifying and solving potential issues.
• Effective team player with a willingness to adapt, learn, and grow according to the needs of the company.
• Reliable transportation to get to and from work.

Physical Requirements:

• Able and willing to work long hours including day, night, and weekend shifts as needed, and work outside of normal hours.
• Able to sit, type, and perform computer work for long periods.
• Able to walk, lift, reach, stoop, stand, grasp, feel, balance, climb, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Able to work in outside environments being subjected to weather changes, noise, vibrations, moving mechanical parts, and job hazards.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Whitaker Construction Offers:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employees earn shares in the company – All employees have ownership in the company and its success.
• Competitive wages.
• Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term Disability, Supplemental Insurance.
• 401K and Match.
• Paid Holidays.
• Paid Personal Days.
• Quarterly Incentive Program (profit sharing).
• Referral Bonuses.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The ADA defines "reasonable accommodation" as a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that allows a qualified individual with a disability to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of a particular job, and does not cause an undue hardship for the employer.

Whitaker Construction is an "equal opportunity employer." Whitaker will not discriminate and will take "affirmative action" measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, creed, color, national origin, or sex.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.