Workshop Manager – Transport & Logistics

Jobs 4 All; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobs 4 All in South Africa seeks a seasoned Workshop Manager to lead a large fleet maintenance operation. You will oversee daily workshop activities, coordinate heavy vehicle repairs, and ensure safety and quality across a busy team of diesel mechanics, auto electricians and technicians.

You will drive preventative maintenance, manage costs and budgets, and report on fleet performance to senior management. The role requires strong leadership, hands-on expertise, and optimization of maintenance

Qualifications

• Relevant Diesel Mechanic / Automotive / Mechanical Engineering / Technical qualification is required.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in commercial vehicle maintenance.
• Solid experience in transport, logistics, trucking or large commercial fleet environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage workshop personnel and operations for a large fleet.
• Plan, coordinate and control vehicle maintenance and repairs.
• Monitor fleet availability and minimise downtime.
• Manage workshop budgets and maintenance costs.
• Ensure health, safety and compliance in the workshop.
• Develop preventative maintenance schedules and ensure quality controls.

Skills

Strong leadership

Planning & organisational skills

Commercial & cost awareness

People management

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem solving

Work under pressure

Hands-on management

Education

Diesel Mechanic / Automotive / Mechanical Engineering / Technical qualification

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Workshop Management

• Take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of workshop operations.
• Plan, coordinate and control all vehicle maintenance and repair activities.
• Ensure the workshop operates efficiently and meets operational fleet requirements.
• Manage workflow and allocate work to mechanics, artisans and technical personnel.
• Monitor all vehicles entering and leaving the workshop.
• Ensure repairs are completed correctly, efficiently and within agreed turnaround times.
• Maintain high standards of workmanship throughout the workshop.
• Ensure workshop facilities, tools and equipment are properly maintained and controlled.

Fleet Maintenance

• Manage the maintenance and repair of a large fleet of heavy commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers and related equipment.
• Implement and manage preventative and scheduled maintenance programmes.
• Ensure services are completed according to prescribed service intervals.
• Monitor vehicle condition and identify potential mechanical failures before breakdowns occur.
• Manage major mechanical repairs and component replacements.
• Oversee engine, gearbox, differential, braking, suspension, electrical and related repairs.
• Ensure effective fault finding and diagnostics.
• Coordinate breakdown repairs and emergency maintenance.
• Minimise vehicle downtime and maximise fleet availability.

Preventative Maintenance

• Develop and maintain preventative maintenance schedules.
• Monitor kilometres, service intervals and vehicle maintenance history.
• Ensure vehicles are serviced before reaching critical maintenance intervals.
• Identify recurring mechanical problems and implement permanent corrective solutions.
• Analyse breakdown trends and introduce measures to improve fleet reliability.
• Ensure maintenance practices extend vehicle and component life.

Breakdown Management

• Ensure breakdowns are attended to quickly and effectively.
• Coordinate workshop and roadside repair teams where required.
• Determine whether vehicles should be repaired on site or recovered to the workshop.
• Ensure appropriate technical resources and parts are available for emergency repairs.
• Monitor breakdown frequency and investigate recurring failures.
• Drive initiatives aimed at reducing roadside breakdowns and operational disruptions.

Staff Management

• Lead and manage workshop personnel including:
• Diesel Mechanics
• Auto Electricians
• Artisans
• Technicians
• Workshop Supervisors
• Apprentices
• Workshop Assistants and support staff
• Allocate daily work and monitor productivity.
• Set performance standards and hold staff accountable for quality and turnaround times.
• Identify training and development requirements.
• Mentor and develop technical personnel.
• Manage attendance, overtime, discipline and performance.
• Promote a professional, productive and safety-focused workshop culture.

Parts & Stores Control

• Work closely with the parts and procurement functions to ensure critical spares are available.
• Monitor consumption of parts and components.
• Ensure correct parts are issued against individual vehicles and job cards.
• Maintain appropriate stock levels for fast-moving and critical components.
• Reduce unnecessary or excessive parts usage.
• Assist with supplier evaluations and sourcing of technical components where required.
• Monitor replacement versus repair decisions to ensure cost-effective maintenance.

Cost & Budget Management

• Manage workshop operating costs and maintenance expenditure.
• Prepare and control workshop budgets.
• Monitor maintenance cost per vehicle and cost per kilometre.
• Analyse high-cost vehicles and recurring repair expenditure.
• Control overtime, parts, tyres, lubricants and external repair costs.
• Review quotations for major repairs and outsourced work.
• Identify opportunities to reduce maintenance costs without compromising safety or reliability.
• Provide management with accurate maintenance and cost reports.

Job Cards & Administration

• Ensure all repairs and maintenance activities are supported by accurate job cards.
• Maintain comprehensive vehicle maintenance histories.
• Ensure labour hours, parts and external costs are correctly recorded.
• Monitor open job cards and outstanding repairs.
• Ensure technical records are accurate and up to date.
• Prepare regular workshop performance and fleet maintenance reports.

Vehicle Inspections & Quality Control

• Ensure vehicles are properly inspected before being returned to service.
• Conduct quality checks on completed repairs.
• Ensure faults reported by drivers are investigated and rectified.
• Implement pre- and post-maintenance inspection procedures.
• Ensure vehicles meet company and roadworthiness requirements.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain strict health and safety standards within the workshop.
• Ensure workshop employees comply with PPE and safe working procedures.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping.
• Ensure safe handling and storage of oils, fuels, batteries, tyres and hazardous materials.
• Ensure workshop equipment and lifting equipment are inspected and maintained.
• Ensure vehicles comply with applicable roadworthiness and transport regulations.
• Investigate workshop incidents and implement corrective action.

Fleet Performance & Reporting

• Monitor and report on key workshop performance indicators including:
• Fleet availability
• Vehicle downtime
• Breakdown frequency
• Maintenance cost per vehicle
• Maintenance cost per kilometre
• Workshop productivity
• Repair turnaround times
• Repeat repairs
• Preventative maintenance compliance
• Parts consumption
• Outstanding job cards

Provide senior management with regular reports highlighting risks, trends and recommended corrective actions.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant Diesel Mechanic / Automotive / Mechanical Engineering / Technical qualification.
• Recognised trade qualification in Diesel Mechanics or a related heavy vehicle discipline would be highly advantageous.
• Minimum 8–10 years' experience in commercial vehicle maintenance, with significant experience at Workshop Manager, Fleet Maintenance Manager or senior workshop supervisory level.
• Strong experience working within a transport, logistics, trucking or large commercial fleet environment.
• Proven experience managing a large workshop and technical team.
• Extensive practical knowledge of heavy commercial trucks and trailers.
• Strong diesel mechanical and diagnostic knowledge.
• Proven preventative maintenance and breakdown management experience.
• Strong understanding of fleet maintenance systems, job cards and maintenance records.
• Experience managing workshop budgets and maintenance costs.
• Strong computer literacy and reporting skills.
• Valid driver's licence.

Essential Industry Experience

Applicants must have solid experience within one or more of the following environments:

• Large commercial trucking fleets
• Transport and logistics companies
• Freight and distribution operations
• Heavy commercial vehicle workshops
• Fleet maintenance operations

Passenger vehicle dealership or light vehicle workshop experience alone will not be sufficient for this position.

Technical Knowledge

The successful candidate should have strong practical knowledge of:

• Heavy-duty diesel engines
• Gearboxes and drivetrains
• Differentials
• Air braking systems
• Suspension systems
• Truck and trailer electrical systems
• Diagnostics and fault finding
• Preventative maintenance
• Vehicle recovery and breakdown procedures
• Tyre management
• Lubrication systems
• Workshop equipment
• Fleet maintenance planning

Experience across recognised heavy commercial vehicle brands will be advantageous.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Strong leadership ability
• Excellent technical judgement
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Commercial and cost awareness
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• High levels of accountability
• Strong people-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Attention to detail
• Strong communication skills
• A hands-on management approach
• Commitment to vehicle safety and reliability

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a career transport workshop professional who understands that fleet availability is critical to a successful logistics operation.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing a busy commercial workshop where breakdown response, preventative maintenance, cost control and vehicle turnaround times directly affect operational performance.

The successful candidate must be able to lead from the front, challenge poor workmanship, identify recurring mechanical problems and implement practical solutions that improve fleet reliability and reduce downtime.

Candidates with experience managing large truck fleets and high-volume transport workshops in Zimbabwe, South Africa or elsewhere in Southern Africa will be particularly well suited to the position.