Rajesh Sookram

• Oversee fleet management including supplier management, reporting, cost savings and replacement strategy
• Manage the fuel function including standardized policies and processes, supplier management and the implementation and maintenance of a fuel strategy
• Ensure vehicle standardization by ensuring a policy is in place, a strategy is designed, implemented, and purchase management processes are streamlined.
• Manage availability of armoured vehicles on mines and ensure downtime minimized with dealers
• Manage relations with Tsebo leasing vis-à-vis vehicle specifications, pricing, vehicle maintenance, quotations, orders, disposal, etc
• Manage suppliers and internal stakeholders with a view of securing high value for Thorburn, driving innovative solutions, enhanced technology and efficiencies
• Responsible for Vehicle returns and disposal including policy, procedures and controls
• Oversee HQ fleet management ensuring inspections, maintenance, accident evaluation and reporting
• Creating awareness on fleet risks, initiating driver training programs to correct behaviour & practices
• Review, analyse and explain major variances to the budget monthly
• Ensure the expense mandates follow audit procedures
• Provide monthly National Opex reports
• Prepare quarterly Capex meetings and reports
• Manage HO & National Capex budget

Achievements

• Changed vehicle costing model of group leasing provider to leverage improved RV’s & maintenance rates - realised 30% cost reduction in price paid on vehicles
• Implemented Driver Incentive program to reward high performing drivers and encourage change in driver behaviour thereby reducing accidents by 18%
• Changed vehicle telematics supplier from existing outdated technology to new supplier, leveraging of big data, innovation and latest technology
• Extracted more value from system at a lower cost
• Expected saving of R250k per year

• Responsible for the Fleet and Transport Operations department which provides customer centric transport solutions to students
• Ensure department delivers prompt and efficient support to medical students to hospitals, and all other inter-campus travel between student residences and campus
• The University has a large fleet of owned assets and supply ad-hoc field trips to departments and students
• This is a substantial operation that provides round the clock support to students and faculties
• Formulate and Implement the Operational Plan to ensure High Service Delivery
• Effective management of University Fleet Vehicles and Buses
• Formulate, Implement and Monitor Policies/ Guidelines and Service Level Agreements
• Ensure High Service Delivery and Compliance by teams to deliver on strategic goals
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures in your area of responsibility
• Implementation of AARTO Policies/Guidelines within the University
• Procurement of eco-friendly Fleet for the University
• Ensure compliance to Road Transport related Acts
• Collaborate with Internal Customers and External Service Providers
• Drafting, Implementing and Monitoring of Divisional Budgets

Achievements

• Automated the fleet maintenance booking process to in-house system to enable daily logging and tracking of all jobs
• Implemented an in-house car wash at the university that all staff & students can use
• 'Wash while you work/study' concept – High Revenue generator

• Responsible for the performance of the Avis – City of Joburg operations business unit consisting of a team of 30 employees, focusing on day-to-day operational activities which includes a Call Centre providing 24/7 client and Maintenance Authorizations supplier support, Contracts department performing customer relationship building and retention activities as well as vehicle technical support
• Manage all operational aspects of contract
• Build, maintain and enhance client relationships through establishing trust, actively ensuring Avis Fleet presence is felt
• Take ownership of all aspects of contract, ensuring organizational internal departments, clients and staff are aware of service level deliverables and processes are in place to meet these demands
• Conduct visits and meetings with fleet managers, high level City officials, City Contracts Manager, and any other key stakeholders
• Monitor vehicle replacement forecast and ensure client specifications are discussed, quotes raised, and orders processed were necessary
• Scrutinize and Approve New Vehicle Quotations, Check Pricing – Vehicle Cost, RV and Accessories
• Identify areas of improvement in operations, innovation and process efficiency
• Managing relationships with external suppliers, Barloworld partners and OEMs to deliver the highest level of fleet services to the COJ
• Revenue Assurance – ensure monies recovered from City of Joburg & debtors book remain up to date
• Evaluate performance in critical operational areas, address with internal departments & workshops to ensure service credit penalties are at the minimum
• Manage team to ensure vehicle downtime and ensure availability service deliverable to customer is met

Achievements

• Setup infrastructure, Call Centre, and Business Unit overall operations
• Complete overhaul and re-design of departmental processes
• Onboard client old fleet and facilitate its replacement with new +- 4000 vehicles
• My team received the Barloworld CEO Award
• Selected as a mentee and participated in the first Barloworld Mentorship Program
• Awarded the Excellence accolade – Avis Fleet

• Responsible for building and maintaining long-term relationships with key clients within Transnet operation, namely Transnet Rail Engineering and Transnet Freight Rail and providing complete fleet solutions
• Liaison between customers and cross-functional internal teams to ensure the timely and successful delivery of services according to clients ‘fleet needs to ensure that high levels of performance is maintained
• Arrange and attend project and operations meetings to ensure that the client’s requirements are being met according to the signed off SLA/Contract
• Establish and maintain strong client relationships to improve CSI
• Visit and communicate regularly with clients
• Actively manage vehicle replacement program to meet set objectives
• Generate and grow new business
• Identifying client needs and exceeding their expectation
• Provide fleet management advice in accordance with industry principles and latest market trends
• Weekly and monthly fleet management reports
• Preparation and delivery of monthly invoices, licenses/sundry invoices
• Dashboard Analysis on monthly reports for clients nationally
• Generate quotes for vehicles up for replacement to achieve 95% success rate & minimize risk to business
• Manage clients Out of Contract Penalties, possible replacements, restructures, or extensions
• Follow up on outstanding stock list awaiting delivery

• Responsible for building and maintaining long-term relationships with a major client within the COJ operation
• Liaison between customers and cross-functional internal teams to ensure the timely and successful delivery of services according to clients ‘fleet needs to ensure that high levels of performance is maintained
• Customer Relationship building
• Procurement and Disposal of vehicles
• Requesting/Processing of new vehicle quotes/orders
• Ensure regular services and preventative maintenance
• Optimize vehicle utilization and availability
• Restructure & Termination of vehicle contracts
• Review Replacement Schedule & advise of possible de-fleet or replacement of asset
• Ensure Contract retention & growth
• Billing and Debtors Management
• Assist MRD in recovering monies for Abuse/Dishonesty
• Prepare Monthly Contract Performance Review
• Management and implementation of special Projects

Achievements

• Re-designed maintenance recovery process and closed gap between Call Centre and Customer, resulting in successful approval and expeditious payment of invoices
• Overhaul vehicle service scheduling process to eliminate missed services of trucks thereby reducing associated maintenance risks
• Oversee Debtors recovery project which included facilitating age analysis meetings, query resolution and reconciliations to clear long outstanding arears

• Responsible for managing the Call Centre maintenance authorisations team
• Ensuring prompt authorisation are issued and downtime reduced on National Fleet
• Liaise and negotiate supplier pricing and scrutinizing repair quotations with a view of reducing costs to the business
• Major Maintenance Authorizations
• Resolution of queries on invoices/orders
• Scrutinize supplier quotations
• Identify abuse and warranty claims
• Maintenance Cost & Vehicle Downtime control

• Liaise and negotiate supplier pricing and scrutinizing repair quotations with a view of reducing costs to the business
• Ensure suppliers are issued with prompt order numbers to minimise downtime of vehicles
• Scrutinize supplier quotes, verify parts failure & issue authorisation
• Identify possible warranty, driver error or normal wear and tear
• Issue orders for COJ, EC, NDot and GM contracts
• Liaise with technical advisor on vehicle inspections
• Load recharge repairs for non-contracted work/abuse
• Follow up with maintenance recovery for sign off