Chassis Inspector / Maintenance & Repair Inspector (Contract)

TRAC Intermodal•Elizabeth, NJ

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a three month contract position. The Chassis Inspector / Maintenance & Repair Inspector will supervise third-party M&R Vendors, ensuring all safety rules are utilized and equipment repairs are performed to protect the integrity of the equipment. This role involves performing pre- and post-repair inspections in the field, authorizing repairs, and conducting timely audits to evaluate and control the quality of repair vendors' work. The inspector will make decisions on behalf of TRAC, aiming for the lowest total-cost options while assessing the necessity and appropriateness of repairs. This position plays a key role in managing the M&R budget by dictating repair expenses and tire quantities, determining if repairs are due to damage versus wear-and-tear, and ensuring vendor accountability. Communication with vendors and facilities regarding gate inspection notations and yard handling procedures is crucial. The role also ensures adherence to AAR and FMCSA rules, TRAC repair procedures, and approved parts. Responsibilities include reviewing field estimates and EDI invoices to identify repairs due to abusive handling, compiling necessary documentation for the 3rd party process, and resolving disputes between truckers and facilities. The inspector will also support the M&R Management program by assembling statistics for management and maintaining operational reports. Logistics support includes daily counts of available and damaged chassis, reviewing rail terminal operator information, and completing chassis reconciliation. For depot support, the inspector will understand chassis progression for term lease terminations, technically discuss and prescribe repairs according to IICL standards, perform COHNA surveys, and coordinate bookings and inspections.

Requirements

Must have a valid driver’s license
Pass a background check
Meet Rail Terminal facility security requirements
Have or be able to obtain a TWIC card.
Must be able to perform “walk-around” inspection of chassis, as well as using a crawler to check brakes and axles.
Must be able to lift and move truck tires.
Must be able to multi-task, and work independently as well as contribute to the overall success of the team.
Must have a command of MS-Office package, Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Must be able to receive and communicate repair instructions verbally and in writing in a professional manner
Understand and comply with all safety precautions.
Have M&R experience and operational knowledge of rail, marine and port, CY, and depot facilities.
Candidate must be free of potential conflicts of interest

Nice To Haves

IICL Chassis certification
Know FMCSA rules
Wheel end / brake / tire / electrical training a plus.
Ability to travel a plus.
Bi-lingual (English and Spanish) a plus.

Responsibilities

Supervise third party M&R Vendors
Ensure that all Safety rules are utilized, and equipment repairs are performed to protect the integrity of the equipment.
Perform pre- and post-repair inspections in field, authorize repairs.
Perform timely audits per month or as needed; evaluate and control quality of repair vendors’ work.
Make decisions on behalf of TRAC, pursuing the lowest total-cost options; assessing whether or not repairs are necessary and appropriate repairs are prescribed.
Make financial decisions controlling M&R budget by dictating repair expense and tire quantities.
Determine if repairs are due to damage vs. wear-and-tear items; ensure vendor accountability upon instances of damage missed on gate inspection or caused by yard handling; communicate with vendor/facility ensuring accurate gate inspection notations and yard handling procedures.
Make certain AAR and FMCSA rules are being employed and followed at all facilities.
Ensure that Trac repair procedures and approved parts are being followed and used.
Require and inspect accurate repairs prescribed and performed upon instances of missed or yard damage.
Review take off tire inventories, ensure accuracy of vendor marking and coding, track tire usage, inspect tires for cause of failure, identify and submit failures for pursuance of warranty credit.
Review facility bad order/out of service inventories daily and address all chassis within required time frame
Use of hand held and mobile technology in the performance of the day to day duties.
Review vendor repair invoices for accuracy; ensure all invoices are submitted and received according to terms in M&R Vendor Agreement.
Assist Vendor Compliance to re-send to vendor for revision when inaccuracies are found and communicate with vendor steps needed to take for correction; decline when situation is warranted and is justifiable; approve accurate invoices for payment; assist with vendor’s inquiries regarding outstanding invoices.
Manage 3rd party billing process to assist the Vendor Compliance group.
Review field estimates and EDI invoices to assist Vendor Compliance in identifying repairs due to abusive handling by trucker; compile work order, TIR, and tire material sheet when needed to begin 3rd party process; communicate with Vendor Compliance group when 3rd party invoice disputes occur.
Provide expert opinion to resolve disputes between truckers and receiving facility regarding inbound TIR notations.
Timely review and accurately code manual invoices if needed.
Periodically assemble statistics for management, including but not exclusive to audits performed, expenses related to a particular vendor or repair category, operational efficiencies, perform physical inventory reconciliations and report findings, etc.
Maintain daily and/or weekly operational reports designed to manage and communicate operational climate, pace of repairs and any issues impacting Trac Intermodal.
Perform daily count of available and damaged chassis by chassis size as needed.
Review rail terminal operator information to determine grounded or mismatched member line containers and outbound equipment forecasts and delays
Complete chassis reconciliation between marine, rail, and CY locations and Seacastle / Trac Lease system.
Follow TRAC OTR procedures that are in place, identify if problem is related to W&T or damage, locate mobile repair vendor, and recommend most cost efficient and safe method of repair.
Understand each phase of the chassis progression for term lease terminations – COHNA, AU, Approved for repair, AV – and each function related to each status.
Be able to technically discuss and prescribe correct repairs according to IICL standards.
Perform joint and independent COHNA surveys - maximize revenue of customer approvals from lease terminations; review, identify, inspect, revise and prescribe correct repairs of chassis to be repaired or scrapped; recognize and apply warranties and assign modifications where needed; coordinate bookings, surveyor inspections, and customer acceptance; QC / post inspect chassis booked for lease.