Job Title: Truck Body Workshop Manager
Department: Workshop / Operations
Location: Benoni
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Purpose

The Truck Body Workshop Manager is responsible for the overall management and performance of the truck body workshop. The role ensures that truck body manufacturing, repairs, refurbishments, modifications, and installations are completed safely, efficiently, on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

The Workshop Manager will lead workshop personnel, coordinate production and repair activities, manage materials and equipment, control costs, and ensure customer requirements are met.

Key Responsibilities

1. Workshop Operations

• Manage the daily operations of the truck body workshop.

• Plan and schedule truck body manufacturing, repairs, modifications, and fitment jobs.

• Allocate work to welders, fabricators, assemblers, spray painters, electricians, and other workshop staff.

• Monitor job progress and ensure deadlines are achieved.

• Coordinate multiple projects and priorities urgent customer requirements.

• Ensure workshop equipment, tools, and machinery are available and maintained.

• Minimize production delays, downtime, and rework.

2. Truck Body Manufacturing & Repairs

• Oversee the fabrication and installation of truck bodies, including:

  • Flat decks

  • Drop sides

  • Taut liners

  • Curtain-side bodies

  • Tipper bodies

  • Refrigerated bodies

  • Tanker bodies

  • Custom truck bodies

• Manage repairs, refurbishments, alterations, and accident damage repairs.

• Ensure accurate measurements and proper alignment of truck bodies.

• Ensure welding, fabrication, assembly, painting, and installation meet required standards.

• Inspect completed work before vehicles are released.

3. Quality Control

• Maintain high standards of workmanship and finishing.

• Conduct inspections at key stages of production and repair.

• Ensure work is completed according to approved drawings, specifications, and customer requirements.

• Identify and correct quality problems.

• Reduce defects, rework, and customer comebacks.

• Ensure final inspection and sign-off are completed before delivery.

4. Staff Management

• Supervise and manage workshop employees.

• Allocate work according to skills, experience, and workload.

• Monitor productivity, attendance, overtime, and performance.

• Train and mentor workshop personnel.

• Identify skills gaps and recommend appropriate training.

• Promote teamwork, discipline, accountability, and good housekeeping.

5. Health & Safety

• Ensure a safe working environment throughout the workshop.

• Enforce the correct use of PPE.

• Ensure safe operation of welding machines, cutting equipment, cranes, lifting equipment, spray-painting equipment, and other machinery.

• Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety requirements.

• Conduct regular safety inspections and toolbox talks.

• Report and investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.

• Ensure proper storage and handling of welding gases, paints, solvents, and other hazardous materials.

6. Materials & Stock Control

• Monitor the availability of steel, aluminium, timber, fasteners, welding consumables, paint, electrical components, and other materials.

• Work closely with procurement and stores to ensure timely availability of materials.

• Control material wastage and unauthorised usage.

• Verify materials against job requirements and specifications.

• Assist with supplier evaluations and material cost control.

7. Cost & Financial Management

• Control workshop labour and material costs.

• Monitor job profitability and productivity.

• Ensure accurate labour hours and material usage are recorded against each job.

• Review quotations and identify additional work or cost variations.

• Reduce unnecessary overtime, material wastage, and rework.

• Assist management with budgets, forecasts, and workshop financial targets.

8. Customer & Internal Communication

• Liaise with customers regarding technical requirements, job progress, delays, and additional work.

• Investigate and resolve customer complaints.

• Work closely with Sales, Estimating, Procurement, Stores, and Operations.

• Ensure customer specifications are clearly communicated to the workshop team.

• Provide accurate completion dates and progress updates.

9. Documentation & Reporting

• Ensure accurate completion of job cards and production records.

• Maintain records of materials, labour hours, inspections, repairs, and completed work.

• Monitor workshop KPIs and prepare regular reports.

• Maintain records of equipment inspections and maintenance.

• Ensure drawings, specifications, and work instructions are properly controlled.

Key Performance Indicators

• Jobs completed on time

• Workshop productivity

• Labour utilisation

• Material wastage

• Rework and defect rate

• Customer complaints

• Workshop gross margin

• Job turnaround time

• Equipment downtime

• Safety incidents

• Staff productivity and attendance

• Quality of completed truck bodies

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 / Matric or equivalent.

• Relevant trade qualification, preferably in Boilermaking, Welding, Sheet Metal, Motor Body Building, or Fabrication.

• 5+ years' experience in truck body building, fabrication, vehicle body repair, or a related workshop environment.

• At least 2–3 years' supervisory or management experience.

• Strong knowledge of welding, fabrication, assembly, and truck body construction.

• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings.

• Knowledge of workshop safety requirements.

• Computer literacy and good administrative skills.

• Valid driver's licence.

Preferred Experience

• Experience managing a truck body manufacturing or repair workshop.

• Experience with steel and aluminium fabrication.

• Knowledge of truck chassis and body fitment.

• Experience with hydraulic, electrical, or pneumatic systems is advantageous.

• Experience with spray painting and finishing processes is advantageous.

• Experience working with commercial vehicles and fleet customers.

Key Competencies

• Strong technical and mechanical understanding

• Leadership and people management

• Production planning

• Problem-solving

• Quality control

• Cost control

• Attention to detail

• Communication skills

• Customer service

• Decision-making

• Time management

• Safety awareness

• Ability to work under pressure

Authority & Accountability

The Truck Body Workshop Manager is accountable for the people, productivity, quality, safety, equipment, costs, and timely completion of work within the workshop.

The manager must ensure that every truck body leaving the workshop meets the company's quality standards, customer specifications, safety requirements, and agreed delivery timelines.