Company Overview
Indian River Transport's vision is to be the best liquid food grade tank carrier in North America. Our mission is to provide our customers with outstanding customer service, delivering their products safely and on time every day, all year round. Business is strong as demand for food products remains high even during downturns in the economy. As a result, we are expanding our business to serve our customers’ demands for more food grade tank capacity.
Job Overview
The Truck Shop Supervisor at our Winter Haven terminalis responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operation of the maintenance shop, ensuring tractors, trailers, and related equipment are maintained safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company and DOT standards. This position supervises technicians and shop personnel, coordinates preventive maintenance and repairs, manages workflow and equipment downtime, and works closely with Operations to ensure equipment availability.
The Truck Shop Supervisor is expected to maintain a safe, organized, productive shop while balancing equipment reliability, repair quality, cost control, and operational needs.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesShop Operations & Maintenance
- Direct and coordinate daily maintenance and repair activities for tractors, trailers, and related fleet equipment.
- Prioritize work based on safety, operational requirements, equipment availability, and scheduled preventive maintenance.
- Monitor equipment downtime and ensure repairs are completed accurately and efficiently.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance inspections and services to ensure equipment remains compliant and available for dispatch.
- Review repair orders and ensure work performed, parts used, labor hours, and equipment status are properly documented.
- Troubleshoot complex mechanical issues and provide technical direction to technicians when needed.
- Ensure repairs are completed correctly the first time and meet company quality standards.
- Coordinate outside repairs, warranty work, towing, and vendor services when necessary.
Team Leadership
- Supervise, coach, and develop diesel technicians, mechanics, and other assigned shop personnel.
- Assign daily work and monitor technician productivity and repair progress.
- Establish clear expectations regarding quality, productivity, attendance, safety, and professionalism.
- Assist with interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluating maintenance employees.
- Identify technician training needs and support continued development of technical skills.
- Address employee performance and conduct issues in accordance with company policies.
- Promote accountability, teamwork, and a professional shop environment.
Fleet Availability & Operations Support
- Maintain regular communication with Operations regarding equipment status, expected completion times, and units unavailable for service.
- Work proactively to minimize out-of-service time and maximize fleet utilization.
- Coordinate repair priorities with Operations while ensuring safety-related repairs are never deferred for operational convenience.
- Monitor recurring equipment failures and recommend corrective actions or changes to maintenance practices.
- Assist with breakdown management and after-hours maintenance issues as required.
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all equipment repairs and inspections comply with applicable DOT, FMCSA, OSHA, and company requirements.
- Ensure DOT inspection deficiencies and safety-related defects are corrected and properly documented.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organized shop environment.
- Enforce proper use of personal protective equipment and safe work practices.
- Ensure tools, lifts, jacks, welding equipment, and other shop equipment are properly maintained and safely operated.
- Assist with preparation for DOT inspections, internal audits, and other regulatory reviews.
- Immediately address conditions that could create an employee or equipment safety risk.
Cost & Inventory Management
- Monitor maintenance and repair expenses and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs without compromising safety or reliability.
- Control overtime and technician labor utilization based on shop workload.
- Monitor parts usage and work with Parts/Purchasing personnel to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
- Review outside repair and vendor expenses for accuracy and necessity.
- Identify warranty opportunities and ensure eligible repairs are submitted appropriately.
- Help identify trends in maintenance cost by unit, equipment type, component, or repair category.
Reporting & Administration
- Maintain accurate maintenance records within the company's fleet maintenance system.
- Review open repair orders and ensure completed work orders are closed promptly.
- Monitor preventive maintenance compliance, equipment downtime, repeat repairs, and other key maintenance metrics.
- Provide management with updates regarding fleet condition, major repairs, staffing concerns, and shop performance.
- Assist with maintenance budgeting and equipment replacement recommendations as requested.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required; technical or diesel-mechanic education preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of heavy-duty truck maintenance experience preferred.
- Previous shop leadership, lead technician, foreman, or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of Class 8 tractors, diesel engines, air brake systems, electrical systems, emissions systems, and preventive maintenance.
- Trailer maintenance experience required; tanker trailer experience strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of DOT/FMCSA vehicle maintenance and inspection requirements.
- Ability to diagnose mechanical and electrical problems and provide technical guidance to technicians.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple repairs and operational demands in a fast-paced transportation environment.
- Comfortable working with fleet maintenance software, electronic repair orders, email, and basic Microsoft Office applications.
- Valid driver's license required; CDL preferred.
Preferred Experience
- Food-grade liquid bulk or tanker transportation experience.
- Experience maintaining Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner; or similar Class 8 equipment.
- Experience with Cummins and PACCAR powertrains.
- Experience managing preventive maintenance programs for a high-utilization fleet.
- Experience managing maintenance costs, vendor relationships, warranties, and parts utilization.
Key Performance Expectations
Performance in this role will be measured in part by:
- Fleet equipment availability
- Preventive maintenance compliance
- Tractor and trailer downtime
- Repair turnaround time
- Repeat repair/comeback rate
- Technician productivity
- Maintenance cost control
- DOT inspection performance
- Shop safety performance
- Accuracy and timeliness of maintenance records
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in and around a heavy-duty truck maintenance environment.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, kneel, and work around commercial vehicles for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds as necessary.
- Ability to work in varying temperatures and shop conditions.
- Ability to respond to urgent equipment or maintenance issues outside normal business hours when required.
Work Environment
This position operates primarily in a commercial truck maintenance facility and requires regular interaction with technicians, drivers, Operations, Safety, vendors, and management. The Truck Shop Supervisor must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where equipment availability is critical to daily transportation operations.
Work Authorization/Security Clearance (if applicable):
The company complies with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by employing only U.S. citizens and non-citizens who are authorized to work in the United States.
EEO Statement
Indian River Transport provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression or any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Indian River Transport complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
