Lead Fleet Technician - Starkville, MS

Lead Fleet Technician

The Lead Fleet Technician is a highly skilled, working technician responsible for performing advanced diagnosis, repair, and preventative maintenance (PM) on the company's fleet of commercial delivery vehicles. This role also involves leading and mentoring a team of junior technicians, ensuring the maintenance shop operates efficiently, and managing the parts inventory and documentation for all in-house repairs. The goal is to maximize vehicle uptime for beverage delivery operations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Repair
• Lead all repair activities in the shop, providing hands-on diagnosis and repair of complex mechanical and electrical systems on fleet vehicles (e.g., diesel/gas engines, transmissions, brakes, hydraulic lift gates).
• Mentor and train junior mechanics and technicians on proper repair procedures, safety protocols, and effective diagnostic techniques.
• Prioritize daily maintenance tasks and distribute work assignments to the maintenance team to meet operational deadlines.
• Perform welding, fabrication, and repair on vehicle bodies and frames as needed.
• Oversee the Vehicle Inspection and PM program, ensuring all maintenance is executed on schedule to maintain DOT compliance and prevent breakdowns.
• Shop Management & Administration
• Manage the parts inventory, including ordering, receiving, stocking, and tracking usage to minimize repair delays and control costs.
• Maintain accurate, detailed records of all repair and maintenance history using the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) or shop software.
• Ensure the maintenance facility and equipment are kept clean, organized, and in proper working order, adhering strictly to OSHA safety standards.
• Work closely with the Fleet Manager and Operations team to schedule vehicle downtime, minimizing disruption to delivery routes.
• Safety & Compliance
• Ensure all vehicles comply with Federal, State, and Local regulations, particularly those enforced by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Conduct final quality checks on all completed repairs before releasing the vehicle back into service.
• Promote and enforce a culture of safety within the maintenance shop.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Vocational or technical certification in automotive/diesel mechanics preferred
• Minimum of 5 years' experience as a heavy-duty truck or commercial fleet technician
• Minimum of 1 year experience in a supervisory or lead technician role
• Must possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or the ability to obtain one

Additional Qualifications and Competencies

• Expert proficiency in diagnosing and repairing diesel and gasoline engines (e.g., Cummins, International, Ford)
• Expert knowledge of air brake systems and hydraulic systems (including lift gates and pallet jacks)
• ASE Certifications (e.g., T4 Brakes, T8 PM, or Master Truck Technician) are highly preferred.
• Proficiency with diagnostic software and electronic control systems

Work Environment

This position requires the ability to work in a garage environment, which may include exposure to noise, heat, cold, dust and chemicals.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Travel

As Clark Beverage Group, Inc. represents multiple geographic locations within its territory, some travel may be required for meetings and/or training.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.