Technical Manager - SA M/F

	Technical Manager - SA M/F

General informations

White Horse Carriers (Zalawi / Whitehorse), based in South Africa, is company of Africa Global Logistics, a division of the MSC Group.  It has developed its expertise over 50 years in road haulage and currently runs over 500 trucks on the corridor from Durban / Walvis Bay to the Copperbelt and Katanga region with a local work force of 600 astute professionals. It is one of the largest cross-border transportation companies operating in the southern region of Africa. With over 50 years of experience and a fleet of more than 520 vehicles, we are committed to providing reliable and efficient transport services across borders. Join our team and be a part of a leading logistics company dedicated to excellence and innovation in the transportation industry.

Job description

Mission Description                      

Responsible for overseeing the technical operations of the company's trucking fleet and workshops, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and safety of the truck and trailer fleet. This role involves managing the Johannesburg workshop, leading a team of technicians, implementing maintenance strategies, and ensuring cost-effective operations while adhering to industry standards and safety regulations. The Technical Manager will play a critical role in minimising downtime, optimising fleet availability, and maintaining high standards of truck and trailer availability for fleet operations.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Management Oversight
• Develop and implement maintenance strategies for the truck and trailer fleet, ensuring minimal downtime and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
• Manage maintenance activities to minimise disruptions to cross-border operations.
• Monitor fleet performance throughout the corridor, identify and log recurring issues, and implement solutions to improve preventative maintenance.
• Work and communicate within the integrated regional structure, coordinating with workshops in Zambia, to ensure consistent maintenance standards and improvement;
• Set up and lead weekly technical calls between SA and Zambia to discuss all relevant issues, action plans, identify who is responsible and target completion dates, with minutes circulated thereafter;
• Liaise with truck and trailer OEM representatives to explore means to increase internal technical knowledge and exploit technical training opportunities.

Workshop Maintenance Management
• Oversee all technical operations and systems of the South Africa-based workshop, maintaining high standards of safety and workmanship across all activities;
• Manage a team of technicians, including performance management, recruitment and training, and foster a culture of accountability and excellence;
• Ensure diagnostics procedures are followed for all jobs where appropriate;
• Supervise routine and preventative maintenance tasks including regular servicing, mechanical repairs, diagnostics, suspension, and electrical repairs, to ensure trucks are roadworthy and operational.
• Ensure the workshop is equipped with the necessary tools, general equipment spare parts, special tools and diagnostic equipment for all truck types in the Zalawi fleet;
• Implement and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) to optimise repair processes, improve operational availability, and ensure safety and quality standards are met.
• Set KPIs as necessary to ensure optimal staff and workflow performance, and manage staff incentive programs where appropriate.

 

Profile

Tyre Management
• Oversee tyre inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement programs, ensuring optimal tyre performance, longevity, and cost-efficiency (primarily the achieved CPK – cost per kilometre) across the fleet;
• Manage the tyre data and analysis system and prepare the required routine reporting required for preventative maintenance, operational, procurement and financial analysis purposes;
• Keep abreast of the tyre market in Southern Africa and propose possible alternative product and application offerings that could improve cost-effectiveness.

Bodywork Repairs
• Instruct and supervise bodywork repairs, including damage assessment, panel beating, and painting, to maintain the fleet's aesthetic and structural integrity.
• Manage outsourced contractors selected to carry out such activities.

Ad-Hoc Fabrication
• Propose suitable designs, instruct and supervise execution of custom fabrication projects, such as trailer uprights, toolboxes and other trailer modifications, long-range fuel tanks and additional security measures for trucks;
• Manage outsourced contractors selected to carry out such activities.

Component Rebuilds
• Assess requirements for rebuilding of components such as engines, transmissions, differentials, electrical components, pumps, injectors, etc;
• Prepare budget costings and obtain necessary approval for any significant work.
• Ensure work is done following correct assembly procedure standards, using the correct tools and testing equipment, and in an appropriate environment;
• Manage outsourced contractors selected to carry out such activities.



Data-Driven Decision Making
• Ensure all work is initiated and updated using the company's workshop and maintenance management software (CMMS) in accordance with set company and group procedures;
• Analyse maintenance data from across the company's maintenance activities to identify trends, reduce breakdowns, and improve fleet operational efficiency;
• Provide regular reports to senior management on fleet performance, workshop productivity, and cost metrics.

Cost, Budget and Inventory Management
• Provide input to the technical operations budget, optimising costs while maintaining high standards of maintenance and repair;
• Oversee inventory availability of spare parts, tyres, lubricants, consumables and other maintenance resources required to optimise workshop efficiency within budget and workflow KPIs.
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers and service providers for external repair services.
• Ensure accident damage repair costs are approved by the insurance department to comply with policy claim requirements