HGV WORKSHOP MANAGER

JOB TITLE

HGV WORKSHOP MANAGER

JOB SUMMARY

B R Saunders Transport Ltd is a family owned business based in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (KT12)

Salary: £50,000+ per annum

Working days: Monday to Friday

Start time: 7:00am, with finishing times negotiable

Pay frequency: Weekly in arrears

About the role

B R Saunders Transport Ltd is looking for an experienced, hands-on HGV Workshop Manager to run our entire workshop operation, managing our in-house workshop staff, coordinating third-party maintenance providers and ensuring our fleet is maintained safely, efficiently and in full compliance with relevant requirements.We operate a fleet of over 50 HGVs, trailers, drawbar combinations and specialist lorry-loader crane vehicles. This is a key operational management position, requiring someone who can organise the daily workload, allocate jobs to workshop staff, manage repair timescales, control costs and maintain constant communication with our transport team to maximise vehicle availability. The successful candidate will take ownership of the workshop from the start of the working day through to completion of jobs, ensuring staff are productive, work is properly recorded, parts are available, repairs are completed on time and vehicles are returned to service as quickly and safely as possible. You will work closely with the Transport Manager and Transport team, as well as external workshops and specialist lorry-loader crane maintenance providers, to keep our operation running smoothly.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Running the workshop operation:

• Take full responsibility for the day-to-day running and organisation of the workshop.

• Allocate jobs and workloads to workshop staff according to priority, skills, resources and operational requirements.

• Plan the daily workshop schedule, ensuring all staff understand their responsibilities and deadlines.

• Input jobs onto the Vaptor computer system, recording work required, allocating tasks and setting expected completion times.

• Monitor job progress, labour hours and completion times, following up on delays and ensuring work is completed efficiently.

• Maintain accurate records of staff hours, timesheets, productivity and work completed.

• Ensure workshop staff work to the required standards of workmanship, safety, efficiency and professionalism.

• Resolve day-to-day workshop issues and ensure outstanding jobs are followed through to completion.

Communication & vehicle availability:

• Maintain constant communication with the Transport Manager and Transport team regarding vehicle availability, defects, repairs and anticipated return-to-service times.

• Coordinate workshop activities around operational requirements, vehicle bookings and transport schedules.

• Advise the transport team promptly of unexpected defects, repair delays and changes to vehicle availability.

• Work proactively to minimise vehicle downtime and maximise fleet utilisation.

• Ensure vehicles are prioritised appropriately where maintenance issues affect customer commitments or operational capacity.

• Confirm when vehicles are ready to return to service following the required repairs, checks and authorisations.

Fleet maintenance and legal compliance:

• Manage planned preventative maintenance inspections (PMIs), servicing, repairs, MOT preparation and defect rectification.

• Monitor PMI and MOT dates to ensure inspections are booked, completed and recorded within the required timescales.

• Review PMI and MOT reports, identify outstanding defects and ensure remedial work is allocated and completed.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date maintenance schedules, inspection sheets, defect records and repair histories on the Vaptor computer system.

• Ensure the fleet’s maintenance documentation supports the company’s operator licensing, roadworthiness and legal compliance obligations.

• Coordinate maintenance for HGVs, trailers, drawbars and associated equipment.

• Liaise with third-party providers responsible for specialist lorry-loader crane maintenance, inspections and repairs.

• Ensure vehicles are not returned to service until relevant safety requirements have been satisfied.

Parts purchasing and cost control:

• Identify and order parts required for servicing, repairs and maintenance.

• Obtain quotations from suppliers and compare prices to secure competitive value for money.

• Monitor parts availability and delivery times to prevent unnecessary delays.

• Maintain appropriate control over parts ordering, expenditure and workshop consumables.

• Check invoices and parts costs against work carried out and agreed prices.

• Identify opportunities to reduce maintenance costs without compromising safety, quality or vehicle reliability.

Damage repairs and insurance claims:

• Manage the workshop’s response to vehicle, trailer and equipment damage.

• Arrange inspections, quotations and repair estimates for insurance-related damage.

• Complete and coordinate the necessary paperwork, photographs, repair information and supporting documentation for insurance claims.

• Liaise with insurers, brokers, repair providers and relevant internal staff as required.

• Monitor the progress of claims and repairs through to resolution.

• Keep accurate records of damage incidents, repair costs and claim outcomes.

Staff management and training:

• Manage the daily activities and performance of workshop staff, ensuring jobs are allocated fairly and effectively.

• Monitor attendance, working hours, timekeeping, productivity and standards of workmanship.

• Ensure staff have the necessary tools, equipment, instructions and support to carry out their work safely.

• Identify training requirements and ensure relevant technical training, including IRTEC training where applicable, is completed and recorded.

• Encourage accountability, teamwork, good communication and a professional working environment.

• Address performance issues and escalate matters where appropriate.

Third-party workshop and specialist provider management:

• Coordinate work with external workshops and maintenance contractors.

• Book repairs and inspections, agree timescales and monitor progress.

• Ensure third-party providers deliver work to the required standard and provide appropriate reports and documentation.

• Compare costs, challenge unnecessary expenditure and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers.

• Coordinate specialist lorry-loader crane maintenance with the relevant third-party provider.

• Keep the Transport Manager informed of contractor performance, costs, delays and any operational concerns.

Reporting, systems and continuous improvement:

• Ensure all workshop jobs, labour hours, parts, repair costs and completion details are accurately recorded on Raptor.

• Maintain clear records of outstanding work, vehicles off the road, upcoming PMIs and MOTs, and anticipated completion dates.

• Monitor workshop performance, vehicle downtime, job completion times and fleet availability.

• Provide regular updates to the Transport Manager on workshop activity, maintenance expenditure and operational issues.

-Identify improvements to workshop processes, scheduling, staff productivity and cost control.

• Maintain a safe, clean, organised and efficient workshop environment.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

The successful candidate must have:

• Proven experience running an HGV workshop or managing a comparable commercial vehicle maintenance operation.

• Strong technical knowledge of HGVs, trailers, drawbars and commercial vehicle maintenance.

• Practical experience allocating workshop jobs, managing staff workloads and monitoring job completion times.

• A sound understanding of PMIs, MOTs, vehicle defects, repairs and roadworthiness compliance.

• Experience managing workshop administration and computerised maintenance records.

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work in a busy transport operation.

• Experience ordering parts, comparing supplier prices and controlling maintenance costs.

• The ability to manage damage repairs and coordinate insurance claims.

• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work closely with the Transport Manager, transport team, drivers, workshop staff and external providers.

• A proactive, hands-on approach with strong accountability and problem-solving skills.

Desirable:

Experience using the Vaptor computer system, knowledge of lorry-loader crane maintenance arrangements and experience coordinating external workshop providers.

WHAT WE OFFER

The opportunity to take ownership of the workshop and make a direct contribution to fleet availability, compliance, productivity and cost control.

A varied role managing a fleet of over 50 HGVs, trailers, drawbars and specialist lorry-loader crane vehicles.

ABOUT BR SAUNDERS TRANSPORT LTD

B R Saunders Transport Ltd is an established transport business providing specialist HGV and lorry-loader transport services across the South East and beyond.

Our fleet and workshop operation are central to the service we provide to our customers. We are looking for someone who takes pride in their work, leads by example, holds people accountable and understands the importance of keeping vehicles safe, compliant and available.

Our slogan: “Big enough to cope, small enough to care.”

HOW TO APPLY:

If you have the experience, technical knowledge and management skills to run a busy HGV workshop operation, manage a team and keep a large commercial vehicle fleet moving, we would like to hear from you.

Please submit your CV via Indeed including details of your relevant workshop management experience.

++No Agencies++

Pay: From £50,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person