Heavy Truck Dealership General Manager

Job DetailsJob Location: Cleveland Freightliner - Parma, OH 44130Salary Range: $90,000.00 - $110,000.00 Base+Commission/yearThe General Manager (GM) is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, financial results, and culture of the Heavy Duty Truck dealership location. This position provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for all dealership operations including New and Used Truck Sales, Parts, Service, and Administrative functions.

The GM is accountable for driving sustainable profitable growth, delivering exceptional customer satisfaction, developing high-performing teams, and ensuring the dealership consistently achieves or exceeds company objectives and industry benchmarks aligned with ATD standards.

This role requires a strong leader capable of balancing operational execution, financial discipline, customer relationships, employee development, and process accountability while maintaining a culture of professionalism, safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture

Lead the dealership with integrity, accountability, professionalism, and a customer-first mindset.
Build and maintain a high-performance culture focused on execution, teamwork, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
Develop department managers through coaching, accountability, performance reviews, and succession planning.
Promote collaboration between departments to maximize customer retention and dealership profitability.
Ensure alignment with company vision, values, policies, and strategic initiatives.
Drive a culture focused on continuous improvement, leadership development, and operational discipline.

Financial Management

Maintain full responsibility for dealership Profit & Loss performance.
Develop and execute annual operating budgets and business plans.
Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly financial performance including:

Sales

Gross Profit

Net Profit

Expense Control

Absorption / Fixed Coverage

Inventory Levels

Cash Flow

Ensure dealership achieves targeted ATD operational benchmarks and company financial objectives.
Identify operational inefficiencies and implement corrective action plans.
Manage departmental expense controls while protecting customer experience and operational capacity.

Operations Management

Oversee all dealership departments including

New Truck Sales

Used Truck Sales

Service
Parts
Administration processes

Ensure departments operate with consistent processes, accountability, and measurable KPIs.
Drive operational efficiencies that improve technician productivity, labor utilization, inventory turns (Truck & Parts), and customer uptime.
Monitor open repair orders, aged inventory, work-in-process, and departmental productivity metrics.
Ensure dealership facilities, equipment, and operations maintain professional standards and regulatory compliance.

Customer & Market Leadership

Develop and maintain strong relationships with fleet customers, owner-operators, municipalities, vocational accounts, and strategic business partners.
Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and long-term customer retention.
Support growth initiatives in truck sales, service, parts, mobile service, telematics, and leasing opportunities.
Maintain awareness of local market conditions, competitive activity, and customer trends.
Participate in community, OEM, and industry events that strengthen dealership visibility and relationships.

Sales & Business Development

Drive dealership growth through strategic business development initiatives.

Work closely with department leaders to improve

Sales penetration
Market share
Service retention
Parts growth
Fleet account development
Customer loyalty

Review sales pipelines, prospecting activity, and customer follow-up processes regularly.
Ensure effective inventory management strategies for both new and used truck operations.

Team Development

Recruit, develop, and retain top talent throughout the dealership.
Support employee training and development initiatives.
Ensure performance expectations are clearly communicated and consistently managed.
Promote workplace safety, compliance, and professional conduct.
Partner with HR on hiring, onboarding, employee relations, and performance management matters.

Performance Expectations / Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The General Manager will be evaluated on overall dealership performance including but not limited to:

Financial KPIs

Departmental Profitability

Gross Profit Performance

Expense-to-Gross Profit Ratios

Net Profit Performance

Fixed Absorption / Fixed Coverage

Operational KPIs

Technician Productivity & Efficiency

Labor Utilization

Effective Labor Rate (ELR)

Service Sales Growth

Parts Gross Profit & Inventory Turns

Open RO Management

Used Truck Aging

New Truck Inventory Turns

Customer KPIs

Customer Satisfaction Scores

Customer Retention

Fleet Account Growth

OEM Performance Metrics

Leadership KPIs

Employee Retention

Training Participation

Department Accountability

Process Compliance

Safety & Risk Management

Benefits

401(k)
401(k) matching
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Supplemental voluntary insurances available.
Life Insurance is fully funded by the employer
Employee assistance program
Employee discount
Paid time off
Birthday day off
Recognition for longevity
Parental leave
Referral program
Health Club/Recreation Center membership reimbursements
Employee Team Member Programs and more!

QualificationsRequired Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in a managerial role within a similar industry.
• Proven track record of successfully managing and leading teams to achieve business objectives.
• Experience in strategic planning and execution to drive business growth and profitability.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, financial reporting, and resource allocation effectively.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and develop team members.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficient in analyzing market trends and implementing strategies to enhance competitive positioning.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on delivering results and improving processes.
• Proficiency in using business management software and tools for planning and analysis.