Job Purpose
Zalawi Haulage Limited seeks an experienced and reliable candidate to join our dynamic workshop team as a Tyre and OBE Supervisor. The successful candidate will lead the tyre and on-board equipment (OBE) section within the Chingola workshop, ensuring optimal tyre lifecycle management, effective load securement, vehicle safety, maximum fleet uptime, and cost-effective operations. This role is critical in supporting our heavy-haulage fleet and in our long-haul cross-border environments by delivering high standards of safety, quality, efficiency, and preventive failure analysis.
Key Responsibilities
1) Team Leadership & Supervision
a. Supervise, guide, motivate, and develop a team of tyre technicians, fitters, and OBE staff
b. Assign daily tasks, monitor performance, provide on-the-job coaching, and conduct regular performance reviews
c. Schedule shifts and workloads to meet workshop demands and service level targets
d. Identify training needs and facilitate development opportunities to build capability in tyre diagnostics, load securement, and safety practices
e. Ensure full team compliance with company policies, safety protocols, and industry standards.
2) Tyre Operations Management
a. Oversee all tyre-related activities including visual inspections, pressure checks, tread depth measurements, and damage assessments
b. Manage tyre repairs (patching, plugging), replacements, rotations, balancing, and mounting/demounting
c. Perform wheel alignment checks where applicable and ensure correct fitment according to vehicle specifications, load ratings, axle configurations, and OEM requirements.
d. Implement and monitor scheduled tyre rotation, alignment, and balancing programs to promote even wear and extend casing life.
3) OBE Operations Management
a. Oversee inspection, tallying (including serialised tracking), damage and wear assessments, and condition checks of all OBE (e.g., wheel chocks, fire extinguishers, chains, ratchets, tarps, belts, and other load securing items)
b. Account for missing or damaged OBE, follow up on chargeable items, and report per company policy
c. Allocate new or replacement OBE to vehicles based on upcoming load requirements or identified deficiencies
d. Ensure all OBE meets Zambian Road Traffic Regulations, RTSA guidelines, and company load securement policies
e. Conduct periodic audits of load securement practices on dispatched vehicles to verify compliance and safety.
4) Tyre Failure and Fault Assessment
a. Analyse removed or damaged tyres to determine repairability, retread suitability, or scrapping decisions by assessing casing integrity, belt condition, sidewall damage, previous repairs, and overall condition
b. Prepare clear, evidence-based reports recommending repair, retread, or scrap in line with company best practices, Zambian road regulations, and manufacturer specifications to maximise casing value and minimise premature disposal
c. Conduct secondary root cause analysis of tyre failures and premature wear, identifying contributing factors such as:
· Driver-related issues (aggressive driving, under-inflation, excessive impact)
· Mechanical/vehicle issues (misalignment, suspension faults, brake drag)
· Road/operating conditions (potholes, debris, extreme heat, rough rod sections)
· Manufacturing or material defects (where evident)
d. Document findings thoroughly and recommend corrective actions (e.g., driver training, vehicle maintenance improvements, alignment checks)
e. Collaborate with drivers, operations, and the Technical Manager to implement preventive measures and feed insights back to reduce recurrence and improve overall tyre performance.
5) Safety & Compliance
a. Enforce strict adherence to health and safety regulations, including safe use of tyre equipment (bead breakers, inflation cages, tyre changers, etc where provided).
b. Conduct regular safety inspections of tools, equipment, and work areas
c. Investigate, report, and follow up on any incidents, near-misses, or hazards in the tyre and OBE section
d. Ensure full compliance with the Road Traffic Act (2002), RTSA guidelines, mining health & safety standards, and company tyre/OBE management policies.
6) Quality Control & Documentation
a. Implement and monitor quality standards for all tyre and OBE work
b. Perform final inspections of completed jobs before vehicles are released back to service
c. Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of tyre inspections, repairs, changes, failure analyses, retread/scrap decisions, stock movements, and costs
d. Maintain detailed records of OBE counts, movements, losses, damages, and condition
e. Utilise workshop CMMS or tyre/OBE tracking systems to capture real-time data and support reporting
f. Track tyre performance metrics (wear patterns, failure causes, retread success rates) and OBE condition trends to inform fleet management and procurement decisions.
7) Reporting & Communication
a. Report daily, weekly, and monthly to the Technical Manager on section performance, completed jobs, stock status, failure analysis trends, scrapping/retreading status, cost metrics, and any critical issues
b. Report monthly on rolling the group OBE status (Zambia and South Africa): new stock, OBE on trucks per survey, damaged/removed items, lost/stolen items, and items in temporary storage. Show month-to-month changes, record extra issues/additions. Use the data to support and justify new OBE purchases while explaining stock variances.
c. Liaise effectively with fleet operators, drivers, operations, and other workshop sections on tyre and OBE-related matters
d. Provide expert input on tyre and OBE procurement, supplier performance, and preventive maintenance strategies.
8) Continuous Improvement
a. Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or safety risks in tyre and OBE processes (including assessment and analysis workflows) and recommend practical improvements
b. Stay current with new tyre technologies, fitting techniques, failure analysis methods, retreading standards, load securement innovations, and heavy vehicle regulations
c. Participate in fleet-wide initiatives aimed at reducing tyre-related downtime, improving load securement compliance, and lowering overall operating costs.
9) Minimum Requirements & Qualifications
a. Grade 12 / Matric certificate (or equivalent).
b. Recognised tyre fitting / tyre technician qualification or apprenticeship (advantageous).
c. 5–8 years’ experience in truck and trailer tyre fitting, maintenance, repair, and failure analysis.
d. At least 2–3 years in a supervisory or team leader role within a tyre workshop or fleet environment.
e. Proven knowledge of commercial vehicle tyre specifications, load indices, speed ratings, retreading processes, common failure modes, and root cause identification.
f. Strong understanding of workshop safety standards and risk management.
g. Computer literate (basic MS Office – Excel for reporting, stock tracking, and failure trend analysis).
h. Valid driver’s licence
Ability to read technical drawings/specifications and work under pressure.
