National Fleet Manager

National Fleet ManagerJob PurposeTo lead, manage, and optimise BevCo's owned fleet operations nationally, ensuring maximum vehicle uptime, safety, compliance, and cost efficiency. This role is responsible for the full lifecycle of the fleet - from procurement, licensing, insurance, and maintenance, through to refurbishment, replacement, and disposal.The National Fleet Manager must bring strong mechanical and engineering expertise, hands-on leadership, and a proactive approach to fleet reliability, ensuring BevCo's commercial, logistics fleet (including forklifts and support assets) are operational to support business continuity, profitable growth, and customer satisfaction.Key Accountabilities and OutputsFleet Operations & UptimeManage BevCo's owned fleet across all regions (commercial vehicles, trucks, and forklifts).Ensure maximum vehicle availability through preventative maintenance and efficient repair scheduling.Conduct vehicle audits every 3 months, with action plans to address findings.Liaise with repair agents to expedite vehicle repairs.Implement robust breakdown response and recovery plans.Optimise fleet utilisation, downtime reduction, and fuel consumption tracking.Ensure the fleet's appearance upholds BevCo's brand image.Manage vehicle refurbishment and rebuilds with quality inspections.Defleet old vehicles with excessively high mileage and manage replacements in line with capex approvals.Manage daily fuel usage and reporting across the national fleet.Monitor and track driver speeding; distribute a monthly speeding report.Mechanical & Technical OversightApply engineering and mechanical expertise to ensure vehicles are maintained to manufacturer and safety standards.Authorise and approve maintenance quotes via WesBank system.Approve and manage maintenance spend through WesBank maintenance and fuel cards.Ensure technical diagnostics and root-cause analysis to prevent repeat failures.Procurement & Lifecycle ManagementDirectly procure fleet vehicles (sales & logistics) based on business needs received from departments, ensuring vehicles are available when required.Manage procurement of new trucks in line with approved capex and EXCO sign-off.Consider insurance, accident management, and operating cost factors during vehicle procurement.Manage vehicle registration, licensing renewals, fines redirection, and AARTO representation.Ensure lifecycle management: procurement, replacement, disposal, relocation, and refurbishment are planned and executed.Insurance & Risk ManagementCustodian of insurance for company fleet assets, including vehicles and forklifts.Manage accident claims and 3rd party claims in collaboration with insurers.Ensure accident reporting processes are adhered to, and claims are expedited.Work with insurers to optimise cover, reduce liability risks, and close claims efficiently.Financial & Cost ManagementOwn and manage the fleet maintenance, insurance, and fuel budgets.Monitor spend on maintenance, fuel, tyres, and repairs against approved budgets.Approve and manage maintenance expenditure via WesBank system.Track lifecycle costs to support repair vs. replace decisions.Ensure monthly reporting on:Vehicle uptime and utilisation.Breakdown analysis and preventative measures.Fuel and maintenance spend vs. budget (variances explained).Planned vs. actual preventative maintenance.Deliver quarterly fleet performance updates to EXCO.Compliance & Master Data ManagementEnsure full compliance with National Road Traffic Act, OSH Act, and AARTO regulations.Manage licensing, roadworthiness, driver compliance, and fines redirection.Ensure accurate master data is governed by defined standards and updated in real-time to reflect injections, replacements, relocations, refurbishments, and disposals.Ensure fleet audits, SHEQ standards, and compliance requirements are consistently met.Digital Enablement & ReportingOversee deployment of Fleet Management Systems (FMX), telematics, and SAP integration.Provide dashboards and reports for leadership decision-making.Monitor driver behaviour, speeding, and fuel consumption through telematics.Ensure predictive data and analytics are used to anticipate breakdowns and optimise fleet planning.Facilities & DC SupportManage depot-level facilities issues relating to lighting, plugs, plumbing, locks, windows, roller doors, and gates.Arrange for standby generators during power outages to support operations continuity.People Leadership & CollaborationLead and coach regional fleet controllers, mechanics, and depot-level staff.Build technical and operational capability in preventative maintenance and compliance.Collaborate with Sales, Distribution, Procurement, SHEQ, and Finance teams.Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.Take on ad-hoc duties as required by the business to ensure fleet and facility readiness.Qualifications and ExperienceBachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive engineering or equivalent (essential).6-8 years' fleet operations experience with strong mechanical/technical expertise.Demonstrated experience managing mixed fleets (sales, commercial, logistics, forklifts).Strong knowledge of South African fleet regulations (NRTA, AARTO, OSH Act).Proven experience in insurance claims, accident management, and risk mitigation.Experience with fleet systems, telematics, SAP, WesBank platforms, and MS Excel.Key Competenc