In any case, the importance of fleet maintenance is of a high order--the very lifeblood of the company is in the hands of this man, his co-workers, and the mechanics and other maintenance personnel under his direction.
The fleet's reputation as a trusted carrier that "delivers the goods" safely and on time depends greatly on the care, quality, and timeliness of its preventive maintenance program to keep the wheels turning on schedule.
How many road breakdowns can the fleet sustain and stay in business? That question is always in the minds of the headquarters executives and the top men responsible for managing the maintenance program. Since they can't take chances, they use every trick known or that they can devise to avoid road emergencies stemming from equipment failures. Over the years it has been proven that nothing beats a careful, consistent preventive maintenance program carried out with know-how by conscientious management and mechanics.
Even computers have been enlisted to give the signal when an engine overhaul is due, when tires have run up the replacement mileage, when transmissions and other major components should be overhauled. Computers are also used for spotting parts that may be defective, and are helping management select the best equipment by telling which competitive equipment provides the most reliable service over the longest time period.
Your career in maintenance, which starts by becoming an outstanding mechanic, then moving to maintenance shop foreman, then to shop superintendent, can take you to this key position as you find ways to increase your book knowledge and learn-by- doing experience. An excellent step is to attend a special basic course such as "Maintenance for Safe and Efficient Operation."
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
From an overall standpoint, the general functions of the position of fleet maintenance manager make its holder fully responsible for organizing, staffing, and directing shop maintenance, repair, and service activities in accordance with company policies on service and budget matters.
Here is a summary of major duties and responsibilities of the fleet maintenance manager. He
- Organizes activities and schedules sufficient labor to meet anticipated requirements.
- Continually reviews and analyzes shop performance and - work quality, identifies problem areas, and takes action as required.
- Implements and reviews scheduling or preventive maintenance program for line and city equipment.
- Reviews performance of supervisory and nonsupervisory personnel.
- Assures that proper inventory levels of tires, parts, fuels, lubricants are maintained at all times.
- Establishes and maintains a working relationship with vendors that ensures price and service advantages.
- Supervises the preparation and maintenance of proper required records and reports.
- Knows, interprets, and applies labor contract provisions, company policies and procedures. Answers questions and adjusts grievances and complaints as required.
- Reviews road breakdown procedure to ensure prompt action.
- Maintains constant communication with other department heads, especially transportation and terminal, to ensure maximum utilization of equipment.
As indicated above, the steps to this position include working up as an outstanding mechanic to maintenance shop foreman, then to shop superintendent and fleet maintenance manager, depending on the company organization setup.
Education and experience requirements:
- Minimum high school education with some college preferred.
- Solid experience background in diesel equipment maintenance with good exposure to motor carrier operations in general.
- Ability to communicate effectively and build sound relationships with vendor, other company management and supervisory personnel, as well as terminal personnel.
A new, most practical approach for the man-on-the-way-up is the five-day course, "Motor Fleet Maintenance Management," pioneered in 1968 for fleet management men by the National Committee for Motor Fleet Supervisor Training. Many top fleet managements are sending promising men to attend. Included are such topics as: Maintenance Shop Work Planning and Scheduling, Effective Use of Maintenance Records Including Use of Electronic Data Processing, Methods of Inventory Control, Planned Maintenance vs. Running Repair, To Repair or Rebuild???, Shop Layout and Selection of Shop Equipment, Accident Control, Personnel Selection, Measuring Employee Performance, On-the-Job Instruction Methods, Principles of Learning and Teaching, Effective Communications, Functions of Management, Your Supervisory Responsibilities.
