Fleet Safety and Operations Specialist

Fleet Safety & Operations Specialist

We are part of the TAL Building Centers family of stores. Based in Vancouver, Washington, TAL Building Centers is a family-owned company helping to build better communities. At our building centers located throughout the Pacific Northwest, we create a positive experience for our customers, pros and homeowners alike by providing guidance for innovative, smart building solutions. Our mission and core values drive everything we do.

Our mission is to help build better communities. Our core values are: we are the guide, we are courteous, we are ambitious, we are accountable, and we are safe.

So, why TAL? Because we're more than just a job we're an opportunity to be part of something bigger. Embrace your potential, and together, let's build a brighter future.

Role statement: The Fleet Safety & Operations Specialist provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization's fleet program. This position will provide oversight for all vehicle types, forklifts, and truck mounted forklifts. This role is accountable for fleet safety, reliability, compliance, cost control, asset lifecycle planning, vendor performance, and the effectiveness of day-to-day vehicle, forklift, and TMF operations.

Outcomes for success:

Leadership Management:

• Ensure employees understand and consistently follow fleet policies, safety standards, licensing requirements, and operating procedures.
• Build effective working relationships across departments and serve as the primary escalation point for fleet-related service and operational issues.

Fleet Strategy and Operations:

• Oversee the complete fleet program, including rolling stock assets owned, leased, assigned, transferred, or removed from service.
• Establish fleet policies, procedures, service standards, and performance measures that support safe, reliable, and efficient transportation.
• Develop preventive maintenance strategies, identify solutions for urgent repairs, monitor vehicle availability, and ensure operational issues are resolved promptly.
• Establish efficient routing, scheduling, assignment, and utilization practices based on business and departmental needs.

Asset Lifecycle, Financial, and Vendor Management:

• Create consistent specs for new and used equipment.
• Develop and monitor fleet budgets, forecasts, maintenance costs, annual DOT inspections, fuel expenses, capital needs, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Determine replacement cycles and approve or recommend vehicle purchases, leases, transfers, and disposals.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and manage relationships with repair facilities, dealerships, leasing companies, fuel providers, and other fleet partners.
• Review fleet data and identify trends affecting fuel efficiency, productivity, maintenance expense, vehicle availability, and total cost of ownership.
• Prepare reports and strategic recommendations related to budgets, scheduling, maintenance, utilization, safety, and fleet performance.

Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including licensing, registration, inspection, insurance, recordkeeping, and transportation regulations.
• Oversee accident prevention, driver safety, incident reporting, claims coordination, and related risk-management programs.
• Verify that drivers and fleet employees maintain required licenses, qualifications, and training.
• Promote safe vehicle operation and take timely action when unsafe conditions, repeated incidents, or compliance gaps are identified.
• Respond to and investigate violations and accidents. Provide a reconstruction of incidents via Geotab.
• Partner with HR to build driver risk profiles using Samba Safety, Geotab, and other behavioral indicators.

Technology:

• Responsible for ensuring that cameras and tracking devices are installed and functioning properly.
• Support with camera and tracking device installation and troubleshooting.
• Negotiate contracts for camera and tracking equipment to ensure the best pricing and product availability.
• Oversee our fuel programs with Carson and Corpay to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Respond timely to fleet tickets submitted via our TAL Connect portal.
• Ensures that fleet is accurate in Geotab, in our financial records, and is appropriately insured.
• Partners with Finance to ensure that our fuel tax is submitted accurately
• DMV and CSA oversight.

Benefits are an important part of overall compensation. We are pleased to offer a comprehensive array of quality benefits to support your health, your family, and your way of life. Our benefits package for our full-time, benefit eligible employees is robust:

• Affordable health and dental insurance via a national network.
• HSA employer contributions.
• Employer paid vision insurance.
• Employer paid life insurance.
• Excellent paid time off, including your birthday!
• 401k options.
• Strong commitment to training, professional development and career advancement.
• Product discounts.
• Tons of other incentives, reward & recognition opportunities, and voluntary benefits!

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in business, transportation, logistics, operations, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with Geotab or equivalent is required.
• Familiarity with Carson, Corpay, and other fuel card programs is preferred.
• Familiarity with Journey Planner or similar dispatch systems is preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in fleet, transportation, logistics, vehicle maintenance, or related operations preferred.
• Valid CDL driver's license is preferred; non-regulated DL with an acceptable driving record is required.
• Working knowledge of vehicle operations, preventive maintenance, repair processes, fleet safety, and industry best practices.
• Experience developing and monitoring budgets, evaluating operating data, and managing vendor relationships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fleet, transportation, scheduling, or maintenance-management systems.
• Familiarity with DOT, FMCSA, or other transportation compliance requirements applicable to the organization's operations preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work at a computer and communicate in person, by telephone, and electronically for extended periods.
• Ability to move through fleet and maintenance environments, inspect vehicles, and occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and travel to stores as needed.

Wages: Starting wages will be based on years of experience and education.

TAL Building Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.