The posting
Job Title: Sales Trainee
Department: Rental Status: Exempt/ Full-Time
Sales Trainee
Are you interested in building a career in heavy equipment sales but do not yet have years of industry experience? Have you grown up around construction, equipment, trucking, farming, mechanics, or job sites and want an opportunity to turn that familiarity into a long-term career?
CMI is looking for a motivated Sales Trainee to join our Rental Department. This position is designed for someone who is eager to learn about heavy equipment, customer service, rental operations, and the construction equipment industry from the ground up.
The Sales Trainee will work alongside our rental, sales, parts, and service teams to develop a strong understanding of our equipment, customers, and business operations. As the trainee gains knowledge and demonstrates readiness, the goal is for the position to transition into a full sales role.
Prior equipment sales experience is not required, but is helpful. We are looking for someone who is dependable, curious, comfortable talking with customers, and willing to put in the time to learn the business.
What You’ll Learn and Do
- Learn the features, applications, and operating capabilities of CMI’s rental and sales equipment.
- Assist customers with identifying equipment that fits their jobsite and project needs.
- Learn the rental process from initial customer inquiry through quoting, delivery, return, and follow-up.
- Spend time in the rental yard and around equipment to gain hands-on product knowledge.
- Assist with preparing rental quotes, agreements, and related customer documentation.
- Develop an understanding of equipment availability, transportation, scheduling, and rental rates.
- Communicate with customers regarding upcoming projects, equipment needs, and rental opportunities.
- Follow up with customers to ensure rental equipment is meeting their needs.
- Work closely with the Rental Department to coordinate equipment deliveries, pickups, inspections, and returns.
- Learn how the sales, rental, parts, and service departments work together to support customers.
- Participate in customer visits, jobsite visits, equipment demonstrations, and industry events.
- Learn CMI’s customer relationship management, quoting, and business systems.
- Develop sales, negotiation, communication, and territory-management skills.
- Build relationships with current and prospective customers under the guidance of experienced team members.
- Maintain a professional understanding of equipment condition, presentation, and yard organization.
- Perform other duties and training assignments intended to prepare the employee for a future sales position.
Career Development
This position is intended to provide a structured opportunity for growth within CMI. The Sales Trainee will begin by learning the rental operation, equipment and parts inventory, customer base, and internal business processes.
As the trainee develops their knowledge and skills, they may take on additional responsibilities such as assisting customers, developing accounts, generating leads, preparing proposals, and supporting rental, parts, or equipment sales activities.
Future placement may include rental sales, parts sales, equipment sales, or another position that aligns with the trainee’s strengths, interests, demonstrated performance, and the needs of the company. Advancement will be based on product knowledge, customer service skills, overall readiness, and available business opportunities.
Who We’re Looking For
The right person may have experience around construction, heavy equipment, trucks, agriculture, mining, mechanics, warehouses, rental businesses, or other hands-on environments. Formal sales experience is helpful but not required.
A strong candidate will have:
- A genuine interest in heavy equipment, construction, machinery, or sales.
- A strong willingness to learn and accept coaching.
- A dependable, motivated, and professional attitude.
- Good communication skills and confidence interacting with customers.
- The ability to build relationships and follow through on commitments.
- Basic mechanical understanding or an interest in learning how equipment works.
- The ability to stay organized and manage multiple responsibilities.
- A team-oriented approach and willingness to assist where needed.
- Comfort working in offices, equipment yards, shops, and customer jobsites.
- The ability to work independently after receiving appropriate training.
- A valid driver’s license and willingness to travel locally to customer locations.
Helpful, but Not Required
- Experience in construction, equipment rental, trucking, agriculture, mining, mechanics, parts, service, or equipment operation.
- Customer service, retail, rental, or sales experience.
- Familiarity with construction equipment or dealership operations.
- Technical, trade school, mechanical, business, or sales-related education.
- Experience using computers, customer management systems, or quoting software.
Work Environment
This position includes a combination of office work, rental yard activities, equipment inspections, customer interaction, jobsite visits, and travel within an assigned area.
The employee may work around active construction equipment, delivery vehicles, shops, outdoor yards, and customer jobsites. The role requires adaptability and a willingness to learn in both hands-on and professional business environments.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The position may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, climbing, and entering or exiting equipment.
The employee must be able to lift and/or move items weighing more than 50 pounds as needed. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary with future commission opportunity
- Vehicle allowance, when applicable to assigned duties
- 401(k) matching and profit sharing
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
Equal Opportunity Statement We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
