Careers
Who Are We?
Sonny Merryman is one of the nation’s leading bus & people-moving equipment companies. Our vehicles transport students and the community across Virginia and as well as other states across the country. We’re a small business but a big fish in our respective pond as Virginia’s largest and most experienced bus company and one of the most respected and successful dealerships in the country. Our team of nearly 200 employees works across our four locations in Central Virginia (Evington/Lynchburg), Greater Richmond (Ashland), Hampton Roads (Chesapeake), and Northern Virginia (Bristow/Manassas). We love to help our Customers when problems arise, and our employees would tell you that we appreciate each other and treat our fellow coworkers with respect. Put simply: we’re a bus company, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll understand we’re much more than that.
Take a glimpse into what it means to be part of Team Sonny.
What Do We Do?
We are a bus dealership that sells, services, and provides parts for school buses and commercial buses used to transport community members. Besides buses, we have supporting business units that sell trailers, rent storage containers, provide parts services to city garages, and we even operate a collection of local Napa stores.
Why Be a Part of Team Sonny?
There’s a reason many of our employees have 10+ years of service on Team Sonny. Here are a few to consider:
- Our Culture. It’s what we call the “Sonny Merryman Way,” and it has a very specific recipe that all comes down to the ingredients – our core values. We’re a company that believes in taking care of our customers as well as our team.
- Competitive Pay. We believe in a livable, fair market wage for all of our employees.
- Paid Time Off. Full time employees immediately start accruing time upon hire; that’s in addition to the seven paid holidays.
- Medical and Prescription / Dental Coverage. Multiple plans are available for you as well as your family at competitive monthly premiums.
- Employee-Stock Ownership Plan. It’s a company retirement plan our employees don’t pay a single dollar into but rather are awarded simply for their continued years of service.
- Optional 401K. In addition to our ESOP, we also provide employees with a 401k program.
- Growth and Advancement. We’re a team that wants to be better today than we were yesterday. We grow as a team as well as individuals.
- Security. Last but by all means certainly not least – job security. We keep good people for an awfully long time. Founded in 1967, we are a trusted partner of the transportation community and work hard to maintain and continue to earn the loyal business of our customers.
Sonny Merryman Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.
Think you’re a good fit for our team?
Click the button below to fill out our preliminary employment interest form and one of our team members will contact you.
Career Openings
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BUS & Vehicle sales manager
Sonny Merryman Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Full-time, Mon–Fri
If you’re a proactive, customer-focused sales leader who thrives on building lasting relationships and growing market share, this may be the perfect opportunity for you.
Read MoreWho Are You?
You’re a persuasive communicator, a strategic thinker, and a trusted advisor. You bring a deep understanding of the sales cycle and have the ability to translate product knowledge into real solutions for customers. You’re energized by connecting with people, finding opportunities, and building business. Whether you’re meeting with school districts or coordinating custom orders, you take pride in delivering exceptional service and results.
What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?
- Building and maintaining strong customer relationships through regular contact and support
- Proactively identifying and pursuing sales opportunities within your assigned region
- Collaborating with internal teams to coordinate branding, prep, and vehicle delivery
- Producing detailed sales quotes and coordinating custom and stock vehicle orders
- Participating in OEM tours, customer events, and industry conferences
- Leveraging industry insights and product knowledge to drive solutions
- Supporting finance and leasing activities and dealership-wide sales efforts
- Acting as the liaison between customers and internal departments
What Experience and/or Qualifications Do You Need?
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field OR equivalent experience
- 5+ years of sales experience (preferred)
- Knowledge of bus and commercial vehicle products (preferred)
- Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail in crafting proposals and managing specifications
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Ability to travel 30–40%, primarily within Virginia
- CDL license holder (preferred)
Why This Role Matters:
This position is central to expanding Sonny Merryman’s presence across school and commercial vehicle markets. You’ll play a critical role in shaping the customer experience and driving growth in a division with a strong reputation and room for innovation.
Perks of the Role:
- Competitive and flexible salary, plus annual bonuses
- Company vehicle & phone
- Health, dental & vision insurance
- 401K and employee stock ownership (ESOP)
- PTO and 7 paid holidays
If you’re ready to grow a legacy brand with new energy and opportunity, submit your application today. If you’re an ideal fit, one of our team members will be in touch!
TYPE A SALES MANAGER
Sonny Merryman – Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Full-time, Mon–Fri
If you’re a customer-first sales professional who enjoys matching people with the right vehicle solutions—and you thrive on building relationships and driving results—this may be the perfect opportunity for you.
Read MoreWho Are You?
You’re a persuasive communicator, strategic thinker, and trusted advisor. You understand how to navigate the sales cycle while building relationships that last. You’re passionate about delivering top-notch service, coordinating custom needs, and helping customers find the perfect solution, whether it’s a MyBus, activity bus, or Type A school bus. You’re energized by a fast-paced environment and love seeing a deal through from quote to delivery.
What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?
• Build and maintain loyal customer relationships through regular contact and support
• Manage vendor relationships, chassis allotments, and production schedules
• Track, quote, and coordinate orders for both custom and stock bus configurations
• Collaborate with internal teams and provide strong after-sales support
• Participate in OEM tours, industry conferences, and customer events
What Experience and/or Qualifications Do You Need?
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of sales experience (preferred)
• School bus or vehicle product knowledge (preferred)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)
Why This Role Matters:
This position plays a major role in expanding Sonny Merryman’s Type A bus presence across schools, retail, and commercial markets. You’ll shape the customer experience, support cross-functional collaboration, and contribute to long-term sales growth in a high-impact product category.
Perks of the Role:
• Competitive and flexible salary, plus annual bonuses
• Health, dental & vision insurance
• 401K and employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• PTO and 8 paid holidays
• Company vehicle & phone
If you’re ready to lead Type A bus sales with energy and expertise, submit your application today. If you’re the right fit, one of our team members will be in touch!
AUTOMOTIVE PARTS INVENTORY CONTROL LEAD
Sonny Merryman – Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Full-time, Mon–Fri
If you enjoy solving complex problems, analyzing data, and bringing structure to fast-moving environments, this may be the perfect opportunity for you.
Read More
Who Are You?
You’re a critical thinker and process improver with strong analytical skills and a knack for turning chaos into order. You’re comfortable challenging systems and decisions in a constructive way, and you’re respected for your ability to bring clarity, discipline, and strategy to inventory management. You thrive when collaborating across teams and store locations and you understand that smart inventory practices create better cash flow and operational success.
What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?
• Analyzing inventory and sales data to identify excess, dead, or misallocated stock
• Challenging and refining store-level ordering and auto-replenishment practices
• Leading creative solutions for reducing inventory through returns, transfers, or liquidation
• Coordinating inter-store transfers to balance stock levels and instill a “transfer-first” mindset
• Acting as a liaison with corporate (NAPA) to negotiate returns, adjust settings, and align strategies
What Experience and/or Qualifications Do You Need?
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel, pivot tables, and data filtering
• Proven ability to constructively challenge corporate and peer decisions
• Excellent communication and training skills, with respect from peers and store staff
• Ability to travel regularly between multiple store locations
• Deep understanding of the financial impact of inventory decisions
• Organized, persistent, and committed to process improvement
Why This Role Matters:
This role was created to tackle a significant inventory management challenge across our three automotive parts stores. With no single point of accountability today, you will bring the leadership and structure needed to reduce inventory levels, free up working capital, and improve the efficiency of our operations. You’ll play a key role in transforming our inventory strategy while supporting the success of store personnel.
Perks of the Role:
• Competitive salary with opportunity for growth
• Health, dental & vision insurance
• 401K and employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• PTO and 8 paid holidays
• Travel flexibility and autonomy in your daily work
If you’re ready to bring structure, insight, and leadership to our parts inventory network, submit your application today. If you’re the right fit, one of our team members will be in touch!
CDL Delivery drivers
Sonny Merryman Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Part time, Mon-Fri.
If you like bringing a smile to Customers’ faces every day and taking in the beautiful views of Virginia, this may be a perfect fit.
Read MoreWho Are You?
You love a good road trip and enjoy taking in new scenery. Whether following directions from a GPS or a map, you can find your way almost anywhere. You value safety and would never consider texting while driving or any other distraction from the road. You are honest and tend to smile a lot more than you frown (or scowl). Your schedule is flexible, and you can roll with quick delivery changes.
What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?
You will be on the road bringing smiles to Customers’ faces when you deliver their new buses and vehicles safely and efficiently. Most of your trips will be in Virginia but occasionally you may take a trip to a neighboring state. As a driver for Sonny Merryman, you’ll also be a rolling billboard for our company along the roads of Virginia.
What Experience and/or Qualifications Do You Need?
- Clean driving record
- Valid CDL, minimum Class B
- Flexible schedule
If you’re interested in this position, submit an application and one of our team members will contact you.
Once you speak with a Sonny Merryman representative, you may be asked to submit a full application. Click the link below to download a paper application or submit your application online.