Driver Onsite Supervisor | Polokwane | Permanent
Driver Onsite Supervisor | Gauteng | Permanent
Lead from the front in a fast-paced FMCG environment where strong supervision directly impacts service, sales and operational performance. This is a hands-on opportunity for an experienced team leader to take ownership of daily route execution, people management, stock and cash control.
The On-Site Supervisor will oversee a team of Driver Salesmen operating within a direct-store-delivery model for a leading bakery business. Working from a single depot, the role is responsible for coordinating daily routes, ensuring accurate stock and cash reconciliation, maintaining customer service standards and resolving operational issues as they arise.
This is a first-line supervisory position with genuine people-management accountability. You will be expected to balance operational discipline with practical problem-solving, ensuring the team starts each day prepared, executes routes effectively and meets required sales, service, attendance and compliance standards.
The successful candidate will join a well-established FMCG bakery operation with a strong national market presence and a high-volume distribution environment. The culture requires people who are accountable, resilient and comfortable making quick decisions while maintaining high standards of customer service, safety and operational control.
What You'll Do
Plan and allocate daily delivery routes across the Driver Salesmen team.
Monitor departure times, route execution, hit rates and on-time delivery.
Oversee stock loading, returns, damages and stales.
Ensure accurate end-of-day stock and cash reconciliation.
Investigate stock or cash discrepancies and escalate where necessary.
Manage daily driver check-in and check-out processes.
Monitor vehicle readiness and basic fleet compliance, including licences, PrDP requirements and safety.
Maintain appropriate depot housekeeping and operational standards.
Act as the first-line escalation point for customer complaints and delivery issues.
Resolve route, stock, cash and customer problems in real time.
Manage attendance, leave and overtime through an electronic T&A/WFM system.
Conduct first-line discipline and performance conversations.
Run daily gate meetings and team briefings.
Conduct ride-alongs and provide practical coaching to Driver Salesmen.
Monitor team performance and support achievement of operational KPIs.
Prepare and report on sales, service, stock and cash accuracy, attendance and other relevant KPIs.
What You Bring
Matric / Grade 12 is essential.
A National Diploma in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Management or a related field is advantageous.
3–5 years' operational experience within FMCG distribution, route sales, bakery, direct-store-delivery or a comparable logistics environment.
At least 1–2 years' formal supervisory, team-lead or acting-supervisor experience with genuine people-management responsibility.
Experience managing or coordinating a team in a high-volume operational environment.
Working knowledge of electronic T&A/WFM platforms such as Workday, SACO, Kronos or equivalent systems.
Experience using handheld route or sales devices is advantageous.
Strong basic cash-reconciliation and stock-control capability.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
A valid Code 08/10 or EC driver's licence.
A PrDP is advantageous.
Strong communication and escalation skills.
The ability to make practical decisions quickly in a demanding operational environment.
What Success Looks Like
Routes are planned effectively and teams depart on time.
Delivery and service targets are consistently achieved.
Stock, returns, damages, stales and cash are accurately controlled and reconciled.
Operational discrepancies are identified quickly and appropriately resolved or escalated.
Driver Salesmen are effectively supervised, coached and held accountable.
Attendance, leave, overtime and performance matters are managed accurately and consistently.
Customer complaints and delivery issues are resolved promptly.
Daily and weekly operational reporting is accurate and timely.
Fleet, safety, depot and compliance standards are maintained.
The team operates with strong discipline, accountability and customer focus.