Trailer Shop Manager - Rockford, IL
TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION INC · ROCKFORD OFFICE - ROCKFORD, IL 61109
Trailer Shop Manager – Rockford, IL
Transport Refrigeration, Inc. | New Rockford Location
Full-Time | Monday - Friday | 1st Shift
Trailer Repair, Estimating & Business Development
🚛 Estimate. Build Relationships. Grow the Business.
Transport Refrigeration, Inc. is opening a new location in Rockford, IL, and we're looking for a motivated, personable, and customer-focused Trailer Shop Manager to help grow our trailer service and parts business.
This is a customer-facing business development and estimating role for someone who understands trailer repair and enjoys building relationships. You'll work directly with customers to understand their needs, estimate trailer repairs, sell trailer parts and services, develop new business, and help grow the Rockford location.
The ideal candidate has experience with refrigerated semi-trailer wreck repair and knows how to identify the scope of a repair, develop an accurate estimate, and communicate the recommended repairs to customers.
If you enjoy being out in the field, meeting customers, developing new business, and putting your trailer repair knowledge to work, we'd like to hear from you.
💰 Why Join Transport Refrigeration?
- Join a new Rockford location with an opportunity to help build the business
- Stable and growing company
- Customer-facing role with variety from day to day
- Excellent Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (Multiple plan options)
- Employer HSA Contributions
- Employer-Paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) with Company Match after 1 year
- PTO Accrual Starting Day One
- 7 Paid Holidays
- Opportunity to develop new and existing customer relationships
- Work with an experienced Service, Parts, and Sales team
- Hands-on industry with opportunities for growth
- Team-oriented work environment
🔧 What You'll Do
Trailer Repair Estimating
- Estimate semi-trailer repairs, from minor repairs to major wreck damage
- Evaluate damaged refrigerated and dry trailers to determine repair needs
- Develop accurate and profitable repair estimates
- Explain repair recommendations, costs, and scope of work to customers
- Monitor estimate accuracy and compare estimated work to completed repairs
- Identify additional repair and service opportunities
Customer Relationships & Business Development
- Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective customers
- Visit customers to understand their needs and promote trailer repair and service
- Market trailer repair, maintenance, and parts to new and existing customers
- Develop new customer relationships and identify opportunities to grow the trailer business
- Sell trailer parts and outside parts sales
- Follow up with customers and maintain consistent communication
- Represent Transport Refrigeration professionally in the marketplace
Service & Parts Coordination
- Work closely with Service, Parts, and Sales to coordinate repairs, parts, and customer projects
- Communicate customer requirements and repair expectations to the appropriate departments
- Help coordinate trailer repair projects from initial estimate through completion
- Support overall customer satisfaction and a positive customer experience
Business Growth
- Help establish and grow the Trailer Shop at our new Rockford location
- Identify opportunities to increase trailer repair, service, and parts sales
- Participate in customer and sales calls when beneficial to developing business
- Build relationships that result in repeat and long-term customers
🧠 What We're Looking For
Required:
- Previous experience estimating wreck repairs for refrigerated and dry semi-trailers
- Strong knowledge of semi-trailer repair and damage assessment
- Strong customer service and relationship-building skills
- Excellent verbal communication skills, both in person and by phone
- Ability to explain repair needs and estimates clearly to customers
- Strong sales and business-development mindset
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
- Strong sense of urgency and follow-through
- Professional appearance and demeanor
- Valid, unrestricted driver's license
- Comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
Preferred:
- Background in Service Management, Operations Management, General Management, or a related field
- Experience with refrigerated trailers and transport refrigeration equipment
- Experience with trailer parts sales or outside sales
- Experience developing new customers or growing an existing customer base
- Experience working in a heavy truck, trailer, equipment, or commercial vehicle dealership
- Knowledge of DOT trailer requirements and regulations
📈 A Great Opportunity to Build Something New
Our Rockford location is new, which means this role provides an opportunity to have a direct impact on building the Trailer Shop's customer base and growing the business.
We're looking for someone who is comfortable getting out from behind the desk—meeting customers, making sales calls, evaluating trailers, preparing estimates, and finding opportunities to earn their business.
If you're personable, knowledgeable about trailer repair, and motivated by building relationships and growing sales, this could be a great fit.
💪 Physical & Work Requirements
This position works in both office and shop environments and requires the ability to:
- Lift up to 75 lbs. occasionally
- Sit, stand, bend, squat, walk, and climb in and around trailers
- Move throughout customer and service facilities
- Visit customer locations and inspect trailers
- Drive company vehicles and travel to customer locations
- Work comfortably around an active trailer repair environment
🚛 About Transport Refrigeration, Inc.
Transport Refrigeration, Inc. is a growing Thermo King dealership and commercial vehicle service company providing transport refrigeration, trailer service, parts, and related equipment solutions.
Our teams support customers across multiple industries and focus on providing responsive, dependable service when their equipment needs attention.
We value being responsive, dedicated, empathetic, creative, and ethical in everything we do. Our goal is to build lasting customer relationships by being a trusted partner—not simply a service provider.
📩 Apply Today
If you have refrigerated and dry trailer wreck repair estimating experience, enjoy working directly with customers, and are motivated to build relationships and grow a business, we'd like to hear from you.
Transport Refrigeration, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Direct applicants only – no recruiting agencies.