April 19, 2026

The Dispatcher

Oak Harbor Freight Lines – Newsletter

L.E.A.D. Program
Application Window Open!

Contributed by: Kerry Millikin, Learning & Development Manager

At Oak Harbor Freight Lines, we believe that leadership is the one factor that determines our success. To build our bench of qualified leaders, we are seeking Leadership Students for our Leadership Excellence and Development program (LEAD).   

We are looking for hourly leads (both dock and driver) who want to invest in one team and one mission for their career. People who want to take risks, learn from failure, and improve the lives of their teammates. People who refuse to accept mediocrity and who want to lead others to do the same.   

Our Leadership Students spend one week per month over 9 months developing their leadership capacities via classroom, virtual, and home-terminal learning experiences. Focusing on communication, public speaking, and emotional intelligence, our students learn about our most pressing internal pain points and keys to success while working with internal subject matter experts on key components of the business. At the end of the program, each Leadership Student will share the results of a program-long project with leadership.  

The role of Leadership Student is a secondary work assignment with dotted-line performance accountability to the Learning & Development Manager. The ideal candidate brings time and experience at OAKH as an Hourly Lead, is in good standing, and is hungry to develop his or her leadership skills and career. 

 

Required Job Responsibilities for our Leadership Students include:

  • Willingness and ability to travel during 5 pre-determined weeks during the program, M-F
    • E-mail ohu@oakh.com for required work dates
  • Self-management of coursework, including seeking help when needed
  • Preparing for, and participating actively in, class sessions, both in-person and virtual
  • Applying course material to everyday work and reflecting on results
  • Preparing and presenting a Final Project
  • Personal ownership of all learning (from SME’s, books, podcasts, and class time)
  • Proactive collaboration with terminal leadership for scheduling all travel and managing all related expenses
  • Completion of all work assignments, Axonify learning, quizzes, tests, presentations, terminal meetings, or other
  • Weekly communications with facilitators, terminal leadership, dock team, and mentor (as applicable)
  • Desire to take risks, to try new challenges, to fail and get back up, and to say what needs to be said

Required Experience, Skills, or Qualifications:

  • Commitment to self-development 
  • Leadership experience, whether formal or informal 
  • Minimum 1 year employment at Oak Harbor Freight Lines 
  • No more than one preventable accident or unsafe act in the last 9 months 

Terminal Manager Letter of Recommendation:

To be considered a candidate, applications require a letter of recommendation written by the candidate’s Terminal Manager. 

Application / Interview/ Selection Process: (dates may vary as needed)

Now – Friday, May 15th

Application window to apply to LEAD Student Role.

Monday, May 25th

Interview process begins.

Mid-July

Selection of Students is made.

Wednesday, August 19th

Teams call with each of the select Leadership Students.

Monday, September 21st

LEAD Program begins.

To apply, please head to Dayforce and/or work with your Terminal Manager for Job Requisition 1936 – “LEAD Student Training”. 

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