Senior Manager - Reefer Fleet Reliability & Technical Support
Company: Charger Logistics Inc.
Locations: Brampton / Greater Toronto Area, Ontario; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; or Querétaro, Mexico
Employment: Full-time Senior technical leadership
Coverage: North American operations - Canada, United States and Mexico
About the Role
Charger Logistics is seeking a highly experienced transport refrigeration professional to lead technical troubleshooting, equipment reliability and breakdown escalation across our North American refrigerated trailer operations.
We are looking for someone who began their career working hands-on with refrigerated trailers and developed into a trusted technical expert capable of solving complex equipment failures, coaching maintenance teams and supporting business operations.
This is not a traditional administrative maintenance management position.
The successful candidate must have substantial hands-on experience with Thermo King and/or Carrier Transicold equipment, combined with the communication, leadership and judgment required to resolve critical situations involving customers, drivers, dispatchers, technicians and external service providers.
The objective is simple: maximize refrigerated trailer reliability, prevent cargo losses, reduce equipment downtime and develop stronger technical capabilities throughout Charger Logistics.
Key Responsibilities
1. Advanced Technical Troubleshooting
Serve as the senior technical escalation point for difficult reefer equipment failures and recurring problems.
Diagnose refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, diesel-engine and electronic-control issues.
Interpret Thermo King and Carrier fault codes, alarm histories, temperature data and diagnostic reports.
Provide remote technical guidance to breakdown coordinators, drivers and mechanics.
Determine whether equipment can safely continue operating, requires immediate service or must be removed from service.
Identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions to prevent repeat breakdowns.
2. Breakdown Management & Cargo Protection
Provide technical leadership during critical roadside breakdowns and temperature-control incidents.
Work with dispatch and breakdown teams to identify appropriate repair locations and qualified service providers.
Help prioritize repairs according to cargo sensitivity, customer requirements, severity of failure and equipment condition.
Coordinate technical recovery plans, including service, trailer substitution or cross-docking where necessary.
Support timely resolution of escalated equipment issues across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Ensure any changes affecting cargo temperature requirements are properly authorized and documented.
3. Technical Coaching & Team Development
Act as a mentor and technical resource for reefer mechanics, trailer technicians, terminal maintenance teams and breakdown personnel.
Create practical troubleshooting procedures for common Thermo King and Carrier failures.
Train teams on refrigeration diagnostics, electrical controls, fuel-system procedures, preventive maintenance and equipment operation.
Identify technical skill gaps and coordinate manufacturer training and certifications.
Develop standardized repair processes and knowledge-sharing procedures across terminals.
Help technicians become more independent in diagnosing and resolving failures.
4. Preventive Maintenance & Fleet Reliability
Review recurring breakdowns and identify systemic equipment problems.
Improve preventive and condition-based maintenance programs for refrigeration equipment.
Analyze maintenance records, engine hours, telematics data and fault trends.
Develop inspection standards and corrective maintenance recommendations.
Work with maintenance leadership to improve parts availability, repair quality and vendor performance.
Advise on equipment reliability, major repair-versus-replace decisions, warranty issues and long-term maintenance strategy.
5. OEM & External Service Provider Management
Establish strong working relationships with Thermo King, Carrier Transicold and authorized service providers.
Escalate difficult technical problems to manufacturers and specialized repair partners.
Evaluate repair recommendations, service quality, warranty eligibility, quotations and major repair costs.
Coordinate technical training and exchange best practices with OEM partners.
Build a reliable cross-border service network for emergencies and specialized repairs.
6. Business & Customer Coordination
Work closely with operations, dispatch, account management, customer service and senior leadership.
Translate complex technical issues into clear operational recommendations.
Support incident investigations involving temperature excursions, equipment failures and potential cargo claims.
Assist with customer-facing technical explanations and corrective-action reports.
Provide clear updates on critical incidents, expected repair outcomes and recurring operational risks.
Take ownership of technical problem-solving through resolution, while maintaining proper communication and accountability.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
8-12+ years of relevant experience in transport refrigeration, including significant hands-on equipment repair experience.
Advanced knowledge of Thermo King and/or Carrier Transicold refrigeration systems.
Proven experience diagnosing complicated refrigeration, diesel, electrical and control-system failures.
Experience with refrigerated trailers and commercial temperature-controlled transportation.
Previous experience as a senior technician, master technician, technical supervisor, workshop supervisor or technical service manager.
Ability to guide and train technicians with different levels of experience.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work with both technical personnel and business stakeholders.
Experience coordinating with repair vendors and manufacturer service networks.
Sound operational judgment under pressure, particularly during temperature-sensitive cargo incidents.
Comfortable using diagnostic software, telematics systems, maintenance records and fleet management applications.
Preferred
Thermo King or Carrier manufacturer training and advanced technical certifications.
Previous experience managing refrigerated equipment across multiple terminals.
Experience supporting large asset-based trucking or refrigerated transportation companies.
Experience with manufacturer warranty programs and root-cause failure investigations.
Knowledge of reefer telematics and remote equipment monitoring.
Applicable professional or refrigerant-handling certifications.
Bilingual English/Spanish capabilities, particularly for candidates supporting Mexico and cross-border operations.
Formal engineering education is welcome but is not mandatory where the candidate has demonstrated exceptional technical experience.
Success Measures
Performance will be evaluated based on:
Reduction in repeat refrigeration breakdowns.
Improvement in refrigerated trailer availability and reliability.
Faster technical diagnosis and resolution of critical incidents.
Reduction in avoidable cargo-loss incidents.
Improved repair quality and reduced unnecessary maintenance expense.
Documented root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
Growth in internal technician competency and independent troubleshooting capability.
Stronger vendor performance and OEM support.
Improved communication between maintenance, breakdown operations and business stakeholders.
Working Model
The role will be based in one of Charger's North American operating locations, with regular collaboration across Canadian, U.S. and Mexican terminals.
The successful candidate should be willing to travel periodically to terminals, maintenance facilities and manufacturer locations.
The position participates in a structured critical-incident escalation rotation. The objective is to build a reliable technical-support function rather than depend on one person being available continuously.
Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate is someone who spent years repairing refrigerated trailers, became the person other mechanics call when they cannot solve a problem, and now wants to apply that expertise at a larger operational level.
They are technically exceptional, practical, patient when coaching others, commercially aware and comfortable communicating with senior management and customers.
The candidate will be looking over North American operations, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Salary will be determined based on experience and qualifications.
We are looking for a hands-on technical leader who can solve today's breakdowns while building the systems and capabilities that prevent tomorrow's.
