Senior Manager — Reefer Fleet Reliability & Technical Support

Charger Logistics Inc is building a stronger technical-support function for its North American refrigerated trailer operations, and this Senior Manager role sits at the center of that effort. Based onsite in Dallas, TX, the position leads technical troubleshooting, equipment reliability improvements, and breakdown escalations across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, partnering closely with OEMs, vendors, and internal operations teams.

Role focus

This role serves as the senior escalation point for difficult reefer equipment failures and recurring problems. The Senior Manager is responsible for diagnosing refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, diesel-engine, and electronic-control issues, interpreting fault codes, alarm histories, temperature data, and diagnostic reports from Thermo King and Carrier systems.

Key responsibilities

• Provide senior technical escalation support for challenging reefer failures and repeat issues.
• Diagnose refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, diesel-engine, and electronic-control problems.
• Interpret Thermo King and Carrier fault codes, alarm histories, temperature data, and diagnostic reports.
• Deliver remote technical guidance to breakdown coordinators, drivers, and mechanics during incidents.
• Assess whether equipment can continue safely operating, requires immediate service, or must be removed from service.
• Identify root causes and implement permanent corrective actions to prevent breakdown recurrence.
• Provide technical leadership during critical roadside breakdowns and temperature-control incidents.
• Partner with dispatch and breakdown teams to select appropriate repair locations and qualified service providers.
• Help prioritize repairs based on cargo sensitivity, customer requirements, failure severity, and equipment condition.
• Coordinate technical recovery plans, including service, trailer substitution, or cross-docking when needed.
• Support timely resolution of escalated equipment issues across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
• Ensure that changes affecting cargo temperature requirements are authorized and documented.
• Mentor 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.
• Review recurring breakdowns to 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.
• Maintain strong 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.
• 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, maintaining proper communication and accountability.

Requirements

• 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 with 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 during temperature-sensitive cargo incidents.
• Comfort using diagnostic software, telematics systems, maintenance records, and fleet management applications.
• 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.

Technologies

• Diagnostic software
• Telematics systems
• Fleet management applications

Working model

• Onsite role based in one of Charger’s North American operating locations, with regular collaboration across Canadian, U.S., and Mexican terminals.
• Periodic travel to terminals, maintenance facilities, and manufacturer locations.
• Participation in a structured critical-incident escalation rotation.
• Designed to build a reliable technical-support function rather than relying on one person being continuously available.

Success measures

• 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.