Position Descriptions

    Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template

    Define WHS duties and key responsibilities for your vehicle fleet operations with our Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template.

    September 16, 20263 min read10 viewsLast reviewed September 2026Licensing terms (PDF)

    Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template

    DOCX • 136 KB + PDF

    Updated Oct 2026

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    Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template — document preview

    Purpose of the Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template

    A well-defined position description is critical for any role, but it is especially important for a Fleet Manager due to the significant WHS responsibilities involved. This Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template provides a structured foundation for clearly outlining the duties, responsibilities, and performance expectations for the person overseeing your organisation's vehicle fleet.

    A Fleet Manager is not just responsible for logistics and maintenance schedules; they play a pivotal role in managing risks associated with traffic, vehicle condition, and driver behaviour. This document helps ensure that safety-critical tasks are formally assigned and understood, forming a key part of your safety management system.

    Clearly articulating these responsibilities helps protect your workers and the public by ensuring accountability for vehicle inspections, driver training, fatigue management, and incident investigation. Properly defining the Fleet Manager's authority and duties is a fundamental part of demonstrating due diligence and is an essential component of effective WHS management systems.

    How to use the Free Position Description (Fleet Manager) Template

    Our template is available for download in both DOCX and PDF formats. The DOCX version is fully editable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific operational context.

    It includes sections covering the primary purpose of the role, key responsibilities, qualifications, and performance indicators (KPIs).

    IMPORTANT: This is a template only. We have provided a structured starting point, but you must customise this document to reflect the specific hazards, risks, vehicles (light, heavy, or specialised), and legislative requirements of your workplace.

    Review each section and add or remove duties to align with your organisational structure and risk profile. This customisation is essential for the document to be effective.

    Once customised, this position description becomes a valuable tool for recruitment, onboarding, and performance management. It also serves as a key piece of evidence during internal or external safety reviews, demonstrating how your organisation manages its fleet-related WHS duties. A thorough review of roles and responsibilities is often a key activity during WHS compliance auditing.

    When to use it

    A formal position description for a Fleet Manager should be used in several business scenarios. The most common is during the recruitment process when hiring a new manager for your fleet.

    It ensures all candidates have a clear and consistent understanding of the role's expectations, particularly its safety obligations.

    It is also invaluable for conducting performance reviews with an existing Fleet Manager, providing a benchmark against which their performance can be measured. You should also review and update the position description when there are significant changes to the business, such as an expansion of the fleet, the introduction of new vehicle types, a change in operational scope, or following a serious vehicle-related incident.

    Who should use it

    This template is designed for use by Human Resources (HR) Managers, Operations Managers, WHS Advisors, and Directors in any organisation that operates a vehicle fleet. This includes, but is not limited to, industries such as:

    • Transport and Logistics
    • Construction and Civil Works
    • Field Service and Maintenance Trades
    • Mining and Resources
    • Local Government and Utilities
    • Sales and any organisation with a mobile workforce

    For businesses that are growing and need to formalise roles, or for those seeking to strengthen their safety governance, this document provides a professional starting point. If you require assistance in developing safety-critical roles or integrating them into your broader safety framework, consider engaging expert support through WHS consulting.

    This document is one of many helpful tools available. You can browse our complete free WHS resources library for more templates, checklists, and guides to support your safety management efforts.

    Common mistakes

    Common mistakes to avoid

    • Failing to customise the template to reflect the specific vehicle types, risks, and operational realities of the business.
    • Omitting clear accountability for critical WHS duties like fatigue management, load restraint, or Chain of Responsibility.
    • Not linking the Fleet Manager's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to safety outcomes, such as incident rates or maintenance compliance.
    • Treating the position description as a one-time document instead of a 'living' tool that is reviewed and updated regularly.

    Legal references

    Legal considerations

    The following legal requirements may be relevant to this type of work.

    • Work Health and Safety Act (Harmonised) — Provides the primary duties for protecting workers and other people from work health and safety risks.
    • Work Health and Safety Regulations (Harmonised) — Sets out requirements supporting the management of workplace hazards and risks.

    The following codes may be relevant to this type of work.

    • Managing WHS Risks Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risks and applying effective controls.
    • Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on consulting workers and coordinating with other duty holders.
    • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on safe work environments, workplace facilities and related controls.

    Did you know

    Vehicle Accidents at Work

    According to Safe Work Australia, vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in Australia. A proactive Fleet Manager is a critical control for managing this high-risk activity.

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    01What are the key WHS responsibilities for a Fleet Manager?
    Key WHS responsibilities include implementing vehicle maintenance and inspection schedules, ensuring driver competency and fitness for work, managing driver fatigue, investigating vehicle incidents, and ensuring compliance with all relevant traffic and WHS legislation.
    02Does this position description cover Chain of Responsibility (CoR) duties?
    This template provides a framework that includes general transport safety duties. However, you must customise it to explicitly detail the specific Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations relevant to your operations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
    03How often should a Fleet Manager's position description be reviewed?
    It should be reviewed at least annually during performance reviews, or whenever there is a significant change in the business, its operations, the fleet composition, or relevant legislation. It should also be reviewed following any serious vehicle-related incident.
    04Can this template be used for a part-time or dual-role Fleet Manager?
    Yes, it can. The core responsibilities and WHS duties remain critical regardless of the hours worked. You should adjust the scope of duties and performance expectations to realistically reflect the part-time nature of the role.

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    How To Use It

    1. 1Download and open in Word or PDF.
    2. 2Replace the placeholders with your business details.
    3. 3Get it reviewed by a WHS specialist before rollout.
    Get a document review

    Need it customised?

    Our WHS consultants can adapt this template to your site, run a gap analysis, or audit what you already have in place.

    Book a Free Consultation WHS consulting services

    or call 1300 156 382

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