Fleet Manager Job Description, Skills and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a fleet manager. Feel free to use our fleet manager job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a fleet manager.
Who is a Fleet Manager?
A Fleet manager is a transportation industry logistics expert. Fleet managers are responsible for purchasing and maintaining delivery vehicles, registering and licensing vehicles, and identifying ways to reduce costs while increasing profits.
Fleet managers manage the fleet management departments, where they transport people or products to different locations for different purposes. They also handle affairs such as selecting work vehicles, ensuring maintenance, assisting in the recruitment process, and enforcing regulatory compliance. Many firms require educated, skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable people to take the role.
In addition to maintaining and improving customer relations through on-time, safe, and cost-effective transportation of people, products, or raw materials, fleet managers are responsible for staying up to date on federal, state, and local regulations affecting their operations; registering and licensing vehicles and keeping inspections up to date, and developing procedures to maximize productivity, cut expenses, and minimize mishaps.
A fleet manager should plan for situations like vehicle accidents, failed deliveries, and other unexpected incidents in the line of work.
Fleet managers often store fleet records and accurate data, so they are aware and can decide when a vehicle needs changing or servicing. Fleet managers examine data to identify potential problems to inform the concerned employees or authorities to look at or fix them from their end. For example, they might read data that shows less traffic on some routes, so they inform their drivers to take those routes.
Another fundamental task is to select the best vehicles. Fleet managers must also decide how to finance a fleet. Consider how important it is for their fleets to deliver products and services at a low cost.
Fleet managers schedule when their fleets should be up for maintenance and servicing by an internal or external automobile repair shop. They cross-check and identify issues that can hinder their fleets from serving their different purposes, so they draw up plans and prepare for potential problems.
They do their best to retain their quality drivers because, at times, they experience a shortage of drivers that could affect smooth deliveries. Fleet managers build beautiful relationships with their employees and ensure a workplace is a happy place for them.
They also track vehicles with GPS and other tracking systems; to locate where the fleets are for seamless delivery, safety purpose or if they get lost or stolen.
Fleet Manager Job Description
Below are the fleet manager job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a fleet manager job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
Fleet managers have similar responsibilities, although not the same in every industry. It may vary based on how large a company is and the size of fleets. Their primary duty is to be responsible for managing fleets at their workplace. Here are what they handle regularly:
- Ensure the department complies with company policies and procedures.
- Examine fleet operations and performance, and improve where necessary.
- Lend a helping hand to the HR department in hiring drivers and those in the fleet management department; to ensure the intake of quality employees.
- Create a schedule for transport operations and implement policy changes.
- Use a GPS to track vehicles to make sure deliveries go seamlessly and according to schedule; and locate vehicles that are lost or stolen.
- Find ways to create more efficiency in driving schedules; while minimizing costs and maximizing profits.
- Observe employee behavior and correct it when needed so that the provision of customer service is top-notch
- Register, insure vehicles, and ensure their licenses updated
- Purchase, lease and acquire fleets when necessary
- Liaise with automobile shops that are nearby; to ensure easy transportation to the shops. Confirm they are reputable to experience seamless servicing and maintenance of fleets.
- Prepare a budget for the department and present it to the management for review and approval.
- Comply with the transport laws and regulations of the country.
Qualifications
Many logistics and transport companies are more concerned about your skills and experience than your degrees, however; here are outlined optional and non-optional qualifications you should possess to increase your chances for the role:
- High school certificate.
- Get a diploma or BSC degree, preferably in business courses, automotive technology, supply chain, and logistics.
- Apply for an internship and entry-level roles in transport and logistics management. The experience could be in a mechanical, driving, or related position; a supervisory role is a plus.
- Study courses and be certified in Certified Automotive Fleet Management (CAFM), Certified Automotive Fleet Specialist (CAFS), and more to be advantageous in career pursuit.
Essential Skills
Fleet managers require various skills to perform well; some are inbuilt while others are acquired. Here are skills they need to possess:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: Fleet managers who speak, listen, and write are admired by their colleagues. They report to a few people, collaborate with others, supervise others, and negotiate contracts with suppliers. Their writing skills, which make them concise, are crucial for presentations. They look confident whenever they communicate their ideas to people.
- Purpose-driven: To stand out, set goals. They are purpose-driven in their duty and use metrics to constantly benchmark productivity, vehicle downtime, fleet utilization, and effective management of fixed and operating expenses. Focusing on a goal pushes a fleet manager to think and strategize plans to solve issues. They are ready to acquire further certifications and knowledge to achieve whatever purpose they aim for in their career.
- Managerial: A great fleet manager can lead and coach the fleet team, drivers, and multiple levels of management. A fleet manager can motivate and serve as a role model to his team; they value diverse opinions and enable an environment for growth and improvements, to acknowledge individual achievement.
- Creativity: Fleet managers that are creative stand out anywhere they find themselves in the industry. They conceptualize and focus on the present and future, to address issues as they arise. Great fleet managers implement innovative initiatives to reduce costs and establish metrics to track performance.
- Accountability: Great fleet managers should be accountable for the ideas and instructions they enforce. Their role contributes to the success of their company, so they have to be serious with their jobs. They should foster an environment of accountability and set a good example.
- Excellent multitasking and time management: As a fleet manager, you have to learn how to multitask and manage your time; while performing your duty efficiently to meet the needs of the department and company. A great fleet manager maintains discipline in day-to-day tasks to focus on the important while ignoring the urgent.
- Finance skills: Excellent fleet managers should be great at preparing balance sheets and other financial documents. They should be proficient in accounting and learn how to perform higher levels of cost analysis, which is crucial given the high turnover in corporate procurement.
- Computer and software knowledge: You should learn and be familiar with programs such as; GPS, database management, Microsoft excel and google spreadsheet, and other relevant programs in fleet management.
- Ethical: To be an excellent fleet manager, you must uphold the highest ethical standards. People should know you as a person of integrity. You must uphold good ethics, be fair, and accept any challenges to their authority from team members.
- Decision-Making skill: Great fleet managers are good at making decisions. They are confident in making calculated decisions that minimize costs while maintaining efficiency and improving performance. Daily phone calls and e-mails bring a slew of minor issues that they must address, necessitating the ability of fleet managers to think on their feet, make decisions, and act fast. When faced with ambiguity, these fleet managers can make decisions.
- Influencing: A great fleet manager is persuasive and educates management to gain respect and support. Fleet managers can influence people who drive change in their organization; they can sell ideas and are considered influential within the company. They can mobilize others to assist in facilitating organizational transformation where necessary.
- Customer-centric: A great fleet manager understands that the primary goal is to serve end-user departments and drivers. Building mutual trust and relationships within the departments can encourage happy employees and provide positive results. Happy workers make cheerful customers; creating a peaceful and healthy workplace help workers treat customers better.
- Effective Networking Skill: Building and learning to sustain solid relationships with business partners and upper management is a treasured skill in fleet management. Network with peers and suppliers in the industry, attend national fleet meetings to expand their knowledge and participate in organizations that support the fleet industry. Take advantage of networking opportunities to learn as much as possible and keep the door open to industry suppliers, who are frequently excellent sources of information.
- Innovative and open-minded: A great fleet manager is knowledgeable about the industry and is analytic. As a fleet expert, be open to new ideas because your team member may have a better idea. Be open to ideas from anyone, including peers, suppliers, drivers, and employees. Because the fleet is a constantly changing industry, it is critical to maintain an open mind. You must be willing to investigate all available service channels in the industry, which results in novel approaches to fleet management. However, being open-minded does not imply being open-minded. You must be open to new ideas and listen to them, but you must temper this practice and attitude with pragmatism, wisdom, and sensibility.
- Technology Enthusiastic: Fleet managers should be updated about technology and welcome it as it evolves while identifying its limitations. They can use technology to improve employees’ productivity and fleet performance.
- Knowledgeable of Automotive Trends and Fleet Equipment: These fleet managers are aware of completely redesigned versions of the cars and trucks available. They are aware of the status and location of their fleet, how the driver base, HR, risk management, finance department, and driver management perceive the fleet operation, and are proactive in addressing any concerns or misunderstandings.
- Flexibility: Great fleet managers are also adaptable. They adapt to trends in the industry and strategize as things evolve. In every industry, things can change in a short or long while, so it is necessary to be flexible as things unfold to be successful in the career.
- Company Knowledge: You need to understand the mission and vision of the organization you work for and how to drive the organization forward. Having in-depth knowledge of the organization helps you draft plans and strategize within your department to contribute to the company’s growth.
How to Become a Fleet Manager
Finish high school and get a degree.
After that, go to a tertiary institution or college and get a BSC in a business field, supply chain, logistics, or any other course. Some firms do not require a degree, as they are okay with potential employees having just skills, experience, and the willingness to learn.
If possible, get an advanced degree like an MBA or master’s in any of the above courses, to increase your employability chances.
After acquiring a degree from a higher institution, you can search for different positions in transport and logistics settings, and gather two to five years of experience; this will prepare you for what to expect and what working in such a setting entails.
Acquire some credible certificates, that are registered and licensed in your country of residence, as some firms may require them. Examples: CAFM, CAFS, NATMI, ARN, etc. You can earn the Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) within a three-year duration, the courses covered are asset management, business management, financial management, information management, maintenance management, professional development, risk management, and vehicle fuel management.
Apply for fleet management roles and hope for the best.
Where to work as a Fleet Manager
- Food production companies
- Government agencies
- Consultancy firm
- Airports
- Transportation companies
- Logistics and delivery company
- Fleet management company
- Gadgets companies
- Commercial freight firms
- Automotive companies
Fleet Manager Salary Scale
In the United States, the average fleet manager’s salary is $74,000 per year. Those starting their career may earn $57,150 per year, and the senior fleet managers earn $115,111 and above yearly.
In the United Kingdom, the fleet manager makes between £41,550-48,650. The junior-level annual salary for a fleet manager position is £33,130, and the mid-seniors start earning £56,325 and above.