Inside the Knight Internship Experiene: Real Growth, Real Opportunities
At Knight Transportation, our internship program is built around one core belief: real-world experience should be meaningful, hands-on, and empowering. Each summer, we welcome driven students from across the country who are ready to learn, contribute, and discover where a career in transportation can take them.
In our new video, University students walk us through their journeys, from meeting Knight representatives at a campus career showcase to gaining practical, day-to-day experience inside our largest terminal in Phoenix.
A Supportive and Encouraging Environment
From Olyvia’s very first interaction, she sensed something different about Knight.
“I got the vibe that it was going to be a supportive environment, one where they encourage you to ask questions,” she shares. During her interview, she immediately felt that this was a place where interns are valued and treated like full members of the team, not just temporary help.
Many students worry about being underestimated or overlooked during internships. But at Knight, intern experiences are the opposite.
“Everyone here treated me like I’m one of them,” says Natalie. “I didn’t want to go somewhere and do busy work. I wanted hands-on experience and that’s exactly what I got.”
Learning the Business From the Inside Out
One of the highlights of Ally’s internship was touring the Phoenix terminal multiple times, gaining exposure to how a major logistics operation really works.
“I never had an idea of what transportation actually was. Seeing how they send out trucks, track freight, and manage operations was really cool.”
From dispatching and load planning to understanding how teams communicate across the country, she experienced the fast-paced world of trucking up close. The Top Gun simulator experience also gave interns a small taste of what our professional drivers navigate on the road every day.
Serving the Community Together
Community service is a key part of the Knight culture, and this year’s interns had the chance to volunteer at St. Mary’s Food Bank.
“It was fast-paced, we even broke the record for packing bread that day,” Natalie says with a laugh. “Community service is something that’s really important to me. Knowing it matters here, too, reinforced that I’m in the right place.”
Access to Leadership: Advice From the Top
One of the most memorable moments of the interns came when they sat down with Knight Transportation’s CEO and CFO for an open Q&A session.
“Not many interns can say they met the CEO and CFO of their company,” said Natalie. “It speaks highly of the culture here that they made time to sit with the youngest people in the organization.”
Hearing their career journeys, lessons learned, and professional advice made a powerful impact and gave them inspiration they will carry into their future careers.
Prepared for the Future
For many students who came of age during the pandemic, working in an office environment is a brand-new experience.
“I was in high school when COVID happened,” Natalie explains. “So actually coming to an office, being part of a team, and experiencing a company’s culture has prepared me more than anything.”
Through meaningful work, mentorship, site tours, events, and service opportunities, she finished the internship confident about her next steps.
Ally’s advice for future interns?
“Take a chance. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Reach out to people who can help. Everyone here wants to see you succeed.”
Ready to Start Your Career Journey?
The Knight Transportation internship program is built for students who want more than just a summer job, they want a pathway to real career growth.
Whether you’re studying business, supply chain, marketing, IT or another field, you’ll experience:
✓ A welcoming team culture
✓ Behind-the-scenes industry knowledge
✓ Access to leadership
✓ Professional development
✓Opportunities to make an impact
Want to learn more about future internship opportunities?
Visit our careers page to explore upcoming openings and take the first step toward a meaningful career in transportation.
