Fleet Manager

Fleet Manager (Cold-Chain Logistics) directs all operations, temperature control protocols, and maintenance for our commercial cold-chain fleet. This role is responsible for ensuring zero-breakdown delivery of frozen products, maintaining the strict sub-zero temperatures required for food safety, and managing multi-temperature delivery vehicles to eliminate product spoilage and maximize distribution efficiency.Key ResponsibilitiesCold-Chain Maintenance & OperationsReefer Unit Management: Oversee specialized maintenance schedules for Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) like Thermo King or Carrier.Temperature Integrity: Implement continuous multi-temperature logging and real-time alerts to guarantee products stay at or below -20°F (-29°C).Defrost & Hygiene Control: Enforce mandatory vehicle washouts, sanitation cycles, and scheduled defrosting protocols to satisfy food safety audits.Emergency Cold-Chain Recovery: Establish rapid-response procedures for reefer failures to transfer frozen cargo before product meltdown occurs.Cost & Route OptimizationIdle Reduction: Track engine and reefer idling via telematics to cut excess fuel consumption while maintaining cold storage.Asset Lifecycle Management: Manage the procurement, spec-building (insulation thickness, multi-temp bulkheads), and eventual disposal of cold-chain trucks.Route Utilization: Partner with dispatchers to minimize door-opening frequencies during high-density multi-stop delivery routes.Food Safety & Regulatory ComplianceRegulatory Adherence: Ensure 100% compliance with FDA, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), DOT, and local transport regulations.Audit Readiness: Maintain flawless records of temperature logs, vehicle sanitation logs, and driver pre-trip/post-trip refrigeration inspections.Team & Technology LeadershipDriver Training: Train delivery drivers on proper reefer pre-cooling procedures, bulkhead placement, and dock loading/unloading compliance.Telematics Management: Monitor real-time cold-chain telematics platforms to track vehicle location, reefer fuel levels, and temperature variances.Workshop & Vehicle Maintenance ManagementWorkshop Operations: Manage the internal repair shop, prioritizing daily repair orders, technician schedules, and stall utilization.Tool & Asset Management: Maintain workshop infrastructure, ensuring diagnostic tools, lifts, and reefer calibration equipment are certified and safe.Preventative Protocols: Enforce specialized PM schedules that synchronize chassis, engine, and reefer unit servicing to minimize total shop visits.Quality Assurance: Audit technician repairs, ensuring all mechanical work on insulated bodies and refrigeration lines meets OEM standards.Spare Parts Planning & ControlInventory Optimization: Establish reorder points, safety stock levels, and Min/Max thresholds for critical high-wear parts and cold-chain components.Critical Item Availability: Guarantee 100% uptime for high-priority items like reefer belts, compressors, door seals, and specialized fluids.Vendor & Sourcing Management: Negotiate pricing and lead times with OEM parts suppliers and aftermarket distributors to reduce carrying costs.Obsolescence Tracking: Conduct routine cycle counts and purge obsolete or damaged parts inventory to maintain an accurate valuation ledger. Job RequirementsExperience & EducationIndustry Experience: 7 to 10+ years of experience managing a commercial fleet, with a strict requirement for cold-chain, frozen food, or dairy logistics.Technical Knowledge: Deep mechanical understanding of multi-temperature insulated truck bodies, reefer engines, and electric standby systems.Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Food Science, or Business Administration is preferred.Skills & CredentialsTechnical Mastery: Deep mechanical knowledge of diesel engines, truck electrical systems, and Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) mechanics.Inventory Software: Proficiency with parts inventory modules within CMMS/Fleet Management software (e.g., Fleetio, Asset Essentials).Financial Literacy: Strong ability to calculate inventory turnover ratios, carrying costs, and parts variance reports.Shop Leadership: 3+ years of direct experience managing an automotive or commercial truck maintenance workshop and garage staff.Inventory Management: Proven track record in material planning, parts room management, or supply chain inventory control.