Transport Supervisor

The Transport Supervisor oversees daily transport operations, ensuring adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), compliance with dangerous goods legislation, and the safe, efficient dispatch of vehicles. The role involves supervising drivers and operational staff, monitoring vehicle movement, enforcing safety protocols, maintaining accurate documentation, and coordinating with customers and service providers to uphold service levels and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Operational Supervision

• Oversee all daily transport activities, including the loading, dispatching, and receiving of freight, ensuring that each process is carried out in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure vehicles are dispatched on time and that delivery schedules are consistently adhered to, taking immediate corrective action when delays or deviations occur.
• Monitor vehicle movement throughout the day, addressing route deviations, breakdowns, or operational issues promptly to minimise disruption.
• Enforce operational cut-off times, ensuring that deadlines are consistently met to maintain service levels.
• Supervise the classification, segregation, labelling, and documentation of dangerous goods, ensuring compliance with legislation and company policy.
• Verify that all required documentation, including manifests, Tremcards, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS), accompanies each consignment.
• Oversee fleet usage, ensuring that vehicles are safe, roadworthy, and appropriately allocated to operational needs.
• Liaise with maintenance teams to schedule servicing, report defects, and ensure vehicles are returned to service without unnecessary delays.
• Maintain accurate operational records and filing systems to support compliance, audits, and reporting requirements.
• Identify consignments that present higher risk and ensure that appropriate handling controls and safety measures are applied.
• Conduct daily trip sheet debriefings with drivers, ensuring that operational feedback is captured and acted upon.

Compliance, Safety & Risk

• Ensure full compliance with dangerous goods legislation and transport regulations, applying controls consistently across all operations.
• Enforce the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensure that drivers are properly licensed and trained for dangerous goods transport.
• Supervise pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, ensuring that defects are identified and addressed before vehicles are dispatched.
• Monitor load compatibility and segregation requirements, ensuring that dangerous goods are transported safely and legally.
• Ensure that emergency procedures, including spill response and incident management, are understood by staff and followed when required.
• Report incidents, accidents, and near misses promptly, ensuring that corrective actions are tracked and implemented.
• Raise and monitor Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), Non-Compliance Points (NCPs), and Improvement Opportunities (IOs), ensuring that issues are resolved within required timeframes.
• Maintain safe housekeeping standards in operational areas, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety requirements.

Staff Supervision

• Supervise drivers, crew, and hub operational staff daily, ensuring that duties are performed safely and efficiently.
• Monitor attendance, timekeeping, leave, and overtime, ensuring that staffing levels are sufficient to meet operational requirements.
• Enforce company policies, disciplinary standards, and dress code compliance, including the correct use of PPE.
• Conduct toolbox talks and daily safety briefings to reinforce safe working practices and operational priorities.
• Identify training needs and support staff development, particularly in the handling and transport of dangerous goods.
• Encourage accountability and safe working practices, fostering a culture of compliance and responsibility.
• Support productivity improvements by identifying inefficiencies and reducing unnecessary overtime.

Reporting & Performance Monitoring

• Compile and submit operational reports within required timeframes, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including on-time dispatch and delivery, safety compliance, vehicle utilisation, and incident reporting.
• Ensure that Delivery Control Centre (DCC) entries are accurate, complete, and submitted promptly.
• Highlight operational issues in reports and ensure that corrective actions are followed through to resolution.

Customer & Operational Coordination

• Ensure that customer service levels and agreed KPIs are consistently achieved.
• Communicate delivery updates, delays, or operational issues to customers and stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.
• Circulate daily delivery schedules and updates to relevant parties, ensuring clarity and alignment across operations.
• Support coordination between internal operations, customers, and service providers to maintain smooth workflows and service delivery.

Quality, Health & Safety, and KPIs

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the transport function, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Implement proactive measures to strengthen operational
• performance and reduce risk.
• Ensure that Quality Management System procedures are consistently applied and maintained.
• Raise NCRs, NCPs, and IOs daily, encouraging staff participation in identifying and resolving issues.
• Ensure that NCRs, NCPs, and IOs are resolved within five working days, maintaining accountability and compliance.
• Maintain compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, conducting monthly checks and ensuring standards are upheld.
• Uphold daily housekeeping standards across operational areas, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment.

Skills Required:

• Strong communication skills to deliver clear instructions and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Proven troubleshooting skills to resolve transport delays, incidents, and operational challenges.
• Solid data entry skills to ensure accurate reporting and documentation.
• Effective leadership skills to supervise drivers and operational staff.
• Analytical skills to track KPIs and identify performance gaps.
• Organisational skills to enforce cut-off times and coordinate schedules.
• Problem-solving skills to address compliance and safety issues promptly.
• Coaching skills to support staff development and training needs.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) to prepare operational reports, maintain compliance records, circulate delivery schedules, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Competence in fleet tracking systems to monitor vehicle movement, identify delays or deviations, and ensure accurate reporting of utilisation.
• Skilled in electronic documentation systems to process manifests, Tremcards, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS), ensuring all consignments are accompanied by correct records

Minimum Requirements:

• Grade 12
• Tertiary qualification in Supply Chain, Logistics or related field (advantageous)
• 3+ years’ experience in a logistics environment with prior experience in a supervisory role.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) to prepare operational reports, maintain compliance records, circulate delivery schedules, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Competence in fleet tracking systems to monitor vehicle movement, identify delays or deviations, and ensure accurate reporting of utilisation.
• Skilled in electronic documentation systems to process manifests, Tremcards, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS), ensuring all consignments are accompanied by correct records.

Education:

• High School (matric) (Required)

Experience:

• Logistics: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person