Fleet Manager

Farmer Focus•Harrisonburg, VA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Farmer Focus’s mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals. Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship. The Fleet Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of the company’s transportation fleet. This role owns day-to-day fleet execution while continuously improving utilization, driver performance, equipment availability, and asset lifecycle management. The Fleet Manager serves as the primary operational link between supply chain leadership, plant operations, and the CDL driver workforce, ensuring transportation capacity supports production schedules, inventory flow, and food-safety standards.

Requirements

Experience in fleet or transportation management
Strong working knowledge of DOT / FMCSA regulations
Proven experience managing CDL drivers directly
Experience managing fleet equipment leases, rentals, and capital purchases
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Comfortable operating onsite in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment
Highly visible, hands-on leader
Execution-focused with strong follow-through
Balances operational reliability with disciplined asset decisions
Calm under pressure and decisive
Thinks in systems, not one-off fixes

Nice To Haves

Experience operating in a refrigerated, food-grade, or regulated environment preferred

Responsibilities

Fleet Operations & Execution Manage daily fleet operations including dispatch coordination, route execution, asset availability, and driver coverage
Ensure transportation execution aligns with production schedules and inventory flow requirements
Balance private fleet utilization vs. outside carriers to ensure adequate capacity
Act as escalation point for service failures, breakdowns, weather disruptions, and last-minute changes
Operate as an onsite leader, embedded in day-to-day execution Driver Management & Safety Directly manage all CDL drivers, including:
Hiring and onboarding
Training, certifications, and licensing
Performance management
Attendance, scheduling, and coverage
Enforce DOT, FMCSA, HOS, and company safety standards
Monitor driver performance using telematics, ELD, and safety metrics
Lead corrective action and coaching for:
HOS violations
Preventable accidents
Policy non-compliance
Equipment misuse
Build credibility and trust with drivers while maintaining clear accountability Compliance & Risk Management Ensure full compliance with:
DOT & FMCSA regulations
Food safety and cold-chain requirements
Company policies and audit standards
Maintain accurate:
Driver qualification files
Vehicle inspection and maintenance records
Accident documentation and investigations
Serve as the primary fleet contact during DOT audits, customer audits, and insurance reviews Fleet Maintenance, Leasing & Asset Management Oversee preventive maintenance programs for tractors, trailers, and refrigeration units
Coordinate with internal maintenance resources and third-party vendors (as applicable)
Manage equipment leasing, short-term rentals, and capital purchases to support operational needs
Evaluate lease vs. buy vs. rental decisions based on:
Capacity requirements
Equipment utilization
Downtime and reliability
Cost and flexibility
Monitor equipment condition, uptime, and sanitation standards
Track asset lifecycle performance and recommend repair, replace, lease extension, or disposal decisions Financial Accountability & Capital Planning Manage fleet-related spend including:
Leasing and rental costs
Maintenance and repair
Operating expenses
Overtime and detention
Partner with the Head of Supply Chain and Finance on:
Fleet budgets
Capital expenditure planning
Equipment replacement strategy
Identify execution-level inefficiencies and convert them into measurable savings Data, Systems & Continuous Improvement Leverage data from:
ELD / telematics systems
Maintenance programs
Safety and compliance reporting
Track and report fleet KPIs to supply chain leadership
Drive continuous improvement in:
Equipment utilization
Driver productivity
Asset uptime
Safety performance
Reduce variability and reliance on ad-hoc decision making Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with:
Supply chain leadership
Production and scheduling teams
Cold storage and warehouse operations
Communicate risks, and capacity changes clearly and early