Driver: Water Tanker – Premier FMCG
Company: Premier FMCG
Position: Driver: Water Tanker
Business Unit: PF670 – Blue Ribbon East London
Location: East London, South Africa
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: FMCG / Logistics / Community Service
Job Overview
Premier FMCG is seeking a responsible, experienced and safety-conscious Driver: Water Tanker to join the Blue Ribbon East London team.
The Driver: Water Tanker plays an important role in supporting Premier FMCG’s corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives by helping deliver clean water to communities affected by water shortages. The successful candidate will be responsible for safely transporting and distributing water to designated community areas while maintaining accurate delivery records and ensuring all activities comply with applicable health and safety procedures.
This position combines heavy motor vehicle driving, water tanker operations, community engagement, vehicle inspections and logistical support. The successful candidate will represent the Premier FMCG and Star Bakeries brands when interacting with community members and other stakeholders and must therefore maintain a professional, respectful and service-oriented approach at all times.
The role requires an individual who can work independently, follow detailed procedures and remain calm and effective in a pressurised environment.
Job Purpose
The primary purpose of the Driver: Water Tanker position is to support regional CSI programmes aimed at alleviating water scarcity while helping build awareness of the Star Bakeries brand and Premier FMCG’s commitment to the communities it serves.
The successful driver will transport water to designated areas and ensure that loading, transportation and offloading activities are completed safely and efficiently.
The role contributes directly to community well-being by helping provide access to an essential service while also supporting the company’s corporate responsibility objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Water Loading and Offloading
The Driver: Water Tanker will be responsible for the safe movement and distribution of water.
Responsibilities include:
- Loading water into the tanker.
- Transporting water safely to designated community areas.
- Offloading water at approved distribution locations.
- Connecting the tanker to the appropriate water distribution point.
- Operating the tanker pump system correctly.
- Ensuring loading and offloading procedures comply with applicable health and safety requirements.
- Maintaining accurate records relating to water deliveries.
- Completing route documentation accurately.
- Following the planned delivery route.
The driver must ensure that all water distribution activities are carried out safely and efficiently.
Health and Safety
Health and safety is a key priority in this position.
The successful candidate will be required to adhere to the applicable health and safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including municipal requirements relating to water distribution.
This includes:
- Connecting the tanker safely to water distribution points.
- Correctly operating the pump system.
- Following approved loading procedures.
- Following approved offloading procedures.
- Identifying and reporting potential risks.
- Maintaining safe working practices at all times.
The driver must understand that failure to follow safety procedures could place themselves, colleagues and members of the public at risk.
Vehicle Roadworthiness
The Driver: Water Tanker will also be responsible for supporting the safe and roadworthy condition of the assigned vehicle.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting daily vehicle inspections.
- Checking the vehicle before leaving the site.
- Identifying mechanical faults or defects.
- Reporting faults to the Transport Department.
- Ensuring reported faults are attended to before the vehicle leaves the site.
- Supporting preventative vehicle maintenance practices.
- Ensuring the vehicle remains suitable for safe operation.
The driver must take responsibility for reporting vehicle issues promptly and must not ignore safety-related defects.
Community Engagement
Because the position involves direct interaction with communities, professionalism and respectful communication are essential.
The successful candidate will:
- Engage respectfully with community members during water distribution.
- Provide a professional service.
- Maintain a positive attitude when dealing with members of the public.
- Follow planned schedules and arrive at distribution points on time.
- Represent Star Bakeries and Premier FMCG professionally.
The driver will be an important representative of the company during community-based activities, meaning professional conduct is required at all times.
Brand Representation
The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a professional brand image for Star Bakeries and Premier FMCG.
This includes:
- Arriving on time according to the agreed schedule.
- Wearing the required Premier driver uniform.
- Maintaining professional conduct.
- Treating community members respectfully.
- Ensuring the vehicle and work environment are maintained appropriately.
The driver should understand that their interactions with communities can directly influence public perceptions of the company.
Route Planning and Documentation
Accurate route administration is an important part of the role.
The driver must:
- Follow planned delivery routes.
- Maintain accurate delivery records.
- Complete route documentation.
- Report risks identified during routes.
- Communicate any relevant operational concerns.
- Inform management when route-related challenges arise.
Good organisational skills and attention to detail are therefore essential.
Liaising With the Bakery Sales Manager
The Driver: Water Tanker will work closely with the Bakery Sales Manager and must communicate relevant operational information.
This includes:
- Communicating new delivery requests.
- Reporting risks identified along routes.
- Participating in the Bakery Sales Invocom.
- Providing feedback regarding delivery activities.
- Supporting the Bakery Sales team with occasional replenishment deliveries when required.
The driver must therefore be comfortable communicating with management and working collaboratively with the wider sales and operations teams.
Additional Delivery Support
Although the primary responsibility of the role is water tanker operations, the successful candidate may be required to provide ad hoc support to the Bakery Sales team.
This can include occasional replenishment deliveries.
The ability to adapt to changing operational requirements will therefore be important.
Minimum Experience and Qualifications
The successful candidate should have:
- Matric / Grade 12.
- A valid Code EC / Code 14 driver’s licence.
- A valid Professional Driving Permit (PRDP).
- First Aid certification.
- Defensive Driving certification.
- Experience driving heavy motor vehicles in rural areas.
- Experience with a water tanker or similar heavy truck would be advantageous.
- Basic knowledge of vehicle inspections.
- Basic knowledge of preventative vehicle maintenance.
- Experience in community service delivery, logistics or distribution environments would be beneficial.
Heavy motor vehicle driving experience is particularly important because the position involves operating a water tanker and travelling to various community locations.
Working Conditions
This is a demanding operational position and applicants should be prepared for flexible working conditions.
The successful candidate must be willing to:
- Work extended hours when required.
- Work flexible shifts.
- Work in a pressurised environment.
- Work a six-day schedule.
- Work Saturdays.
- Work Sundays.
- Work public holidays according to the applicable shift roster.
- Work in alternative areas when required by the business.
The position may require the driver to operate in different environments and locations depending on business and community requirements.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an experienced heavy motor vehicle driver who is comfortable operating a water tanker and understands the importance of safety, punctuality and responsible vehicle operation.
They should be:
- Safety-conscious.
- Reliable and punctual.
- Physically capable of performing the role.
- Comfortable working extended and flexible hours.
- Professional when interacting with the public.
- Comfortable working in rural areas.
- Able to follow health and safety procedures.
- Detail-oriented when completing documentation.
- Able to identify and report vehicle faults.
- A strong team player.
- Community-minded and service-oriented.
- Able to work effectively under pressure.
Position Summary
Position: Driver: Water Tanker
Company: Premier FMCG
Business Unit: PF670 – Blue Ribbon East London
Location: East London, South Africa
Employment Type: Full-Time
Qualification: Matric
Licence: Code EC / Code 14 + PRDP
Additional Certifications: First Aid + Defensive Driving
Experience: Heavy motor vehicle driving, preferably water tanker or similar truck experience
Working Schedule: 6-day position, including weekends and public holidays according to shift roster
Premier FMCG is an equal opportunity employer and encourages suitably qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities, to apply. Applicants consent to the processing of their personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) for recruitment purposes.