Director of Fleet Planning

Job Summary

The Director of Fleet Planning will be responsible for creating and executing a proactive plan to ensure that all tank cars have a clear schedule for reaching repair shops within the required timeframe. This role demands exceptional communication, organizational, and analytical skills, as well as expertise in fleet management and maintenance operations. The Manager will collaborate closely with internal teams, external partners, and repair facilities to achieve seamless scheduling, minimizing downtime while ensuring adherence to safety and regulatory requirements. A high-performing individual with a structured and organized approach is essential to ensure compliance with scheduling plans. This role also includes oversight of the Schedulers, Bad Order Team, and Assignment and Return Team, ensuring alignment and efficiency across these functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a proactive plan to ensure that tank cars due for qualifications are planned and scheduled well in advance of their due dates.
• Oversee and manage the Schedulers team, responsible for planned shoppings, shop selection, customer coordination, and internal workflows to ensure cars arrive at shops in a ready-to-work status.
• Supervise the Bad Order Team, which handles repairs needed for cars in normal service unrelated to qualifications, ensuring efficient and timely resolutions.
• Lead the Assignment and Return Team, which assists in the shopping of cars that are off-boarded or on-boarded to customers, managing the shopping workflow and communication to customers. This team operates independently of the Schedulers.
• Directly supervise all teams, including proactive training and development of individuals to enhance performance and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Ensure cars are shopped during their required cycles, maintaining 100% compliance with FRA requirements and regulatory standards.
• Develop and manage comprehensive schedules for fleet availability, ensuring alignment with operational and customer needs.
• Collaborate with leasing teams to confirm railcars or tank cars meet customer requirements and are operationally ready.
• Maintain an efficient scheduling system to track fleet utilization, pending and completed maintenance tasks, and repair statuses.
• Proactively oversee the timely return, redistribution, and redeployment of railcars or tank cars to minimize downtime.
• Coordinate regular maintenance and repair schedules across internal teams and third-party repair facilities, ensuring timely and high-quality service.
• Ensure fleet diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance activities comply with safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate progress of plans effectively, ensuring all cars follow the proper workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) required to collaborate with Fleet Maintenance and Portfolio teams.
• Monitor fleet performance metrics, prioritizing urgent repairs to sustain operational efficiency.
• Track and analyze fleet availability, utilization rates, and maintenance schedules, providing actionable insights.
• Collaborate with senior management to implement strategies that reduce downtime and enhance fleet efficiency.
• Prepare and present periodic reports on fleet maintenance status, repair schedules, and operational challenges.
• Establish and maintain relationships with third-party vendors to ensure consistent and quality service delivery.
• Align scheduling and maintenance plans with other departments, including operations, logistics, and leasing teams.
• Provide training and guidance to team members on fleet scheduling practices, systems, and tools.
• Identify and implement process improvements, integrating new technologies to enhance scheduling and fleet management.
• Stay informed about industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in rail and tank car leasing, maintenance, and scheduling.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in fleet management, scheduling, or maintenance coordination, preferably within the transportation or logistics industry.
• Proven experience with rail and tank car leasing, maintenance, and repair operations is highly preferred.
• Prior supervisory or management experience required.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• In-depth knowledge of industry regulations and safety standards related to rail and tank cars.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret fleet performance data and develop strategic recommendations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with internal teams, vendors, and repair facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute proactive scheduling strategies that improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Experience in negotiating and managing third-party vendor relationships.
• Familiarity with data visualization and reporting tools to support decision-making.
• Knowledge of best practices in fleet maintenance and lifecycle management.

This is a general description of the Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications required for this position. Physical, mental, sensory, or environmental demands may be referenced to communicate the way this position traditionally is performed. Whenever necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal employment opportunity, AITX will consider reasonable accommodations that might involve varying job requirements and/or changing the way this job is performed, provided that such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship.