Yard Supervisor
Location: Zambia | Industry: Road Transport & Logistics
JOB DESCRIPTIONDepartment: Operations / Fleet ManagementReports To: Operations Manager / Fleet Manager
JOB DESCRIPTION
Department: Operations / Fleet Management
Reports To: Operations Manager / Fleet Manager
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Yard Supervisor is responsible for efficient, safe, and orderly management of the transport yard, ensuring smooth movement of vehicles, drivers, cargo, and equipment while enforcing safety, security, and operational discipline. The role is critical in minimizing delays, accidents, losses, and non-compliance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Yard Operations Management
- Supervise daily yard activities, including vehicle entry, parking, dispatch, and exit.
- Allocate parking bays for trucks, tankers, trailers, and abnormal loads.
- Ensure smooth coordination between dispatch, drivers, workshop, and security.
- Monitor vehicle turnaround times to reduce congestion and delays.
- Maintain orderliness and cleanliness of the yard at all times.
The Yard
2. Vehicle & Fleet Control
- Verify roadworthiness of vehicles before dispatch (lights, tyres, reflectors, seals, spill kits)
- Ensure vehicles dispatched comply with RTSA regulations and company safety standards
- Control trailer coupling and uncoupling procedures
- Report defects immediately to the Workshop / Maintenance Team
- Maintain accurate yard vehicle movement records
3. Driver Supervision & Discipline
- Supervise drivers within the yard and enforce company disciplinary code
- Ensure drivers comply with yard rules, speed limits, PPE usage, and safety procedures
- Conduct pre-dispatch briefings (route risks, safety alerts, fatigue reminders)
- Report misconduct, late arrivals, intoxication, or unsafe behavior
- Control driver rest areas and ensure fatigue management compliance.
4. Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)
- Enforce yard safety rules, signage, traffic flow, and pedestrian segregation
- Ensure compliance with ISO 39001 (Road Traffic Safety) and ISO 45001 (OHS) standards
- Investigate and report yard incidents, near-misses, spills, or damages
- Ensure availability and proper use of fire-fighting equipment, spill kits, and PPE
- Conduct regular yard safety inspections and toolbox talks
- Coordinate with security personnel to control yard access
- Verify driver identity, vehicle registration, seals, and cargo documentation
- Prevent theft, vandalism, fuel pilferage, and unauthorized movements
- Ensure proper sealing of cargo and tankers before dispatch
- Maintain visitor and contractor movement control within the yard
- Maintain daily yard activity logs
- Record vehicle dispatch and arrival times
- Compile incident, damage, and non-compliance reports
- Submit daily/weekly operational reports to management
- Support audits (RTSA, insurance, ISO, internal audits)
7. Coordination & Communication
- Liaise with Operations, Dispatch, Workshop, HR, and Safety Officers
- Communicate yard instructions clearly to drivers and staff
- Escalate operational challenges promptly
- Support emergency response activities
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)
- Vehicle turnaround time in the yard
- Number of yard incidents / near-misses
- Dispatch compliance rate
- Driver discipline and rule compliance
- Yard safety audit scores
- Accuracy of yard records and reports
- Minimum Grade 12 Certificate
- Diploma or Certificate in Transport & Logistics / Fleet Management / Safety (added advantage)
- Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in road transport or logistics operations
- Previous experience supervising drivers or yard operations preferred
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Good knowledge of road transport operations and yard management
- Knowledge of RTSA regulations and traffic safety rules
- Ability to enforce discipline fairly and consistently
- Good communication and reporting skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making ability
- Ability to work shifts and under pressure
- Outdoor yard environment
- Shift work, including nights, weekends, and public holidays
- Exposure to heavy vehicles and industrial equipment
- Strict adherence to safety procedures required
- Authorized to control yard movements and driver activities
- Can recommend disciplinary action but cannot dismiss employees
- Can stop unsafe operations or dispatches
The Yard Supervisor must take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, report hazards immediately, and comply with all company safety policies and legal requirements.