Who is responsible for tire management? The 4 roles

Several people are involved in the daily routine of a transport operation to make sure all vehicles and deliveries work properly. Among them are those responsible for tire management.

This is one of the main areas of fleet management that brings savings and productivity to operations. Those involved in routine tire tasks therefore need to recognize its importance and truly know what they are doing.

But what exactly does that mean? What are the daily activities in fleet tire control? Below, learn about the role of those responsible for tire management:

• Tire manager;
• Fleet manager;
• Tire analyst;
• Fleet analyst.

Who is responsible for tire management?

Tire manager

Also known as the “tire controller”, this person is responsible for organizing all tire management processes.

One of the main responsibilities is to determine tire branding as soon as the tires arrive in the fleet. This is a fundamental step for all other processes to work properly, allowing each tire to be kept track of individually.

This person also determines the right time to perform a tire inspection, when to relocate it during tire rotation, whether it is time to wash it, and so on.

Throughout this management process, data generated in the daily routine must be organized and assessed. The tire manager must therefore analyze and use the information obtained to make the next decisions on purchasing, disposal and refurbishment of fleet tires.

To fulfill the role, the person needs commitment, tire knowledge, interpersonal skills, organization and to always stay up to date with industry developments.

Fleet manager

When the operation is not yet large enough to have a manager dedicated to tire care, the fleet manager carries out all the responsibilities.

However, when a tire manager is present, the fleet manager's role is slightly different. They must oversee the department and ensure that the tire controller's performance meets expected standards.

Another responsibility is making the final decisions on which tires to buy and which quotes to approve at any given time.

For example, if the tire manager determines that 5 tires need to go through retreading, the fleet manager assesses whether the necessary budget is available and approves the request, or decides on the best alternative way for the service to be carried out.

In this case, to fulfill the fleet manager role, the person must have organizational and process management skills, as well as good people skills and the ability to analyze data.

Tire analyst

Although it is not such a common role in fleets, some operations already have it. This is especially true of large fleets with more than 500 license plates in the operation.

Among those responsible for tire management, the analyst deals most closely with data every day. This person must know tires very well — their structure, rubber, etc.

Daily tasks include controlling inventory, taking inventory of assets and identifying when new purchases are needed. Also regarding inventory, the tire analyst needs to map the tires in the fleet, keeping track of which are idle, active, installed, undergoing refurbishment services, and so on.

The analyst must also assess the quality of services provided by the fleet's partner tire repair shops.

This person is also responsible for identifying causes when a tire loses performance, as well as possible solutions to the issue. This analysis is the starting point for the tire and/or fleet manager to make more efficient decisions to bring the desired improvements to the operation.

Fleet analyst

In some cases, the fleet does not have a tire analyst but instead a fleet analyst, who focuses on how the fleet operates as a whole.

In this case, the analyst's attention is less on vehicle or tire quality control and more on organizing and analyzing data. The main job is to understand whether actions taken in the operation's daily routine bring the expected results and meet the company's objectives.

If not, the analyst needs to show directors and decision-makers what is happening that hinders results and what hypotheses they have developed to bring improvements.

As the person with the closest contact with operational data, the analyst may also bring ideas and suggestions for tools and new technologies that contribute to speed and productivity in their routine — and that of other employees.

Now that you know who is responsible for tire management, keep reading about what this management involves and how to carry it out for maximum fleet savings and safety.

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