Business Manager – Haulage, Transport & Logistics

Business Development & Revenue Growth:

• Develop and implement strategies to grow the haulage, transportation and logistics business.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities across relevant industries and customer segments.
• Build and maintain relationships with key clients, corporate customers, manufacturers, distributors, freight forwarders and other business partners.
• Develop proposals, quotations and commercial offers for prospective clients.
• Negotiate service rates, contracts and commercial terms within approved limits.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities and pricing to identify new opportunities.
• Develop strategies to increase fleet utilization, customer retention and revenue.
• Maintain a healthy sales pipeline and provide regular business development reports to management.

Haulage & Transport Operations:

• Oversee the daily operations of the haulage and transportation business.
• Coordinate the deployment of trucks, drivers and other transportation resources.
• Plan routes and schedules to maximize vehicle utilization and minimize empty trips and unnecessary downtime.
• Monitor vehicle turnaround time, delivery performance and operational efficiency.
• Ensure goods are transported and delivered safely and within agreed timelines.
• Coordinate with clients and operational teams to resolve transportation and delivery issues.
• Monitor third-party transporters and logistics partners where applicable.

Fleet Management:

• Oversee the effective utilization and availability of the company's fleet.
• Monitor truck performance, fuel consumption, mileage and downtime.
• Ensure preventive maintenance schedules are properly implemented.
• Coordinate vehicle servicing, repairs and inspections.
• Ensure all vehicles have valid documentation, insurance, permits and other required certifications.
• Identify underperforming or inefficient vehicles and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Work with the maintenance team to reduce vehicle downtime and improve fleet availability.

Financial & Commercial Management:

• Take responsibility for the financial performance and profitability of the haulage/logistics business unit.
• Monitor revenue, operating costs, margins and overall business performance.
• Develop and manage operational budgets.
• Monitor fuel, maintenance, driver, subcontractor and other logistics-related costs.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising service quality or safety.
• Review client and transporter rates to ensure commercial viability.
• Prepare regular business performance reports for management.

Client & Relationship Management:

• Develop strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Understand client transportation and logistics requirements and ensure effective service delivery.
• Act as the escalation point for major client issues and service concerns.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and service-level performance.
• Ensure contracts and agreed service-level requirements are consistently met.
• Identify opportunities to increase business from existing clients.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and supervise drivers, logistics personnel, operations staff and other relevant team members.
• Set clear performance expectations and KPIs for the team.
• Monitor employee performance and productivity.
• Ensure staff comply with company policies, operational procedures and safety requirements.
• Train, coach and develop team members where necessary.
• Address operational or disciplinary issues in accordance with company policies.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with applicable transportation, haulage and road safety regulations.
• Promote a strong safety culture across all transportation operations.
• Ensure drivers and vehicles comply with company safety standards.
• Monitor driver behaviour, accidents, incidents and safety violations.
• Investigate transportation-related incidents and recommend preventive measures.
• Ensure proper documentation and records are maintained for all trips and vehicles.

Reporting & Performance Management:

• Develop and monitor KPIs for the haulage and logistics business.
• Track key metrics including revenue, fleet utilization, vehicle downtime, fuel consumption, delivery performance, operating costs and customer retention.
• Prepare weekly and monthly management reports.
• Provide management with insights and recommendations for improving business performance.
• Use operational and financial data to support decision-making.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue growth and profitability
• New clients acquired
• Client retention rate
• Fleet utilization rate
• Vehicle availability and downtime
• On-time delivery rate
• Fuel efficiency
• Cost per trip/kilometre
• Number of successful trips completed
• Customer satisfaction
• Contract renewal rate
• Reduction in operational losses and avoidable costs

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or HND in Business Administration, Logistics, Transport Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics or a related field.
• 5–8 years of relevant experience in haulage, transportation, logistics, fleet management or a related industry.
• Proven experience in business development, client acquisition and commercial management within the transportation/logistics sector.
• Strong knowledge of haulage and fleet operations.
• Demonstrable experience managing drivers, trucks and/or third-party transporters.
• Experience in negotiating commercial contracts and transportation rates.
• Strong financial and cost-management skills.
• Excellent knowledge of route planning, fleet utilization and logistics operations.
• Strong leadership, negotiation and relationship-management skills.
• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant logistics/fleet management systems.