Business Development Manager - Road Freight at Boardroom Appointments

Purpose of the Role

• To develop and secure profitable road freight opportunities across South Africa and cross-border markets, supporting the expansion of the Company's transport portfolio.

Position Summary

• The Business Development Manager - Road Freight will be responsible for growing domestic and cross-border road freight revenue by securing new customers, developing transport solutions and building long-term relationships across targeted industries. The role requires strong road freight knowledge, commercial discipline, customer focus and the ability to sell reliable transport solutions across South Africa and the SADC region.

Key Accountabilities

Business Development and Sales

• Identify and secure new road freight customers and transport contracts.
• Develop opportunities across full truck load, part load, dedicated fleet, linehaul, distribution and cross-border transport solutions.
• Build a strong pipeline of prospects and manage the sales process from lead to contract award.
• Conduct regular customer visits, presentations and proposal discussions.
• Develop sales strategies for targeted industries such as mining, FMCG, retail, manufacturing, industrial and agriculture.

Commercial Management

• Prepare transport proposals, route solutions and pricing structures.
• Work with operations and fleet teams to ensure proposed solutions are operationally achievable.
• Participate in RFQs, tenders and commercial negotiations.
• Protect gross profit and ensure pricing reflects operational cost, risk, route requirements and service expectations.
• Monitor revenue and profitability of newly secured accounts.

Customer Relationship Management

• Develop relationships with transport managers, logistics managers, procurement teams and supply chain decision-makers.
• Conduct regular customer reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Resolve commercial concerns professionally and escalate operational issues where required.
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell customs clearing, freight forwarding, warehousing and contract logistics services.

Market Development

• Identify new routes, industries and cross-border opportunities.
• Monitor competitor activity, market rates, fuel movements and corridor challenges.
• Provide market feedback to management to support strategic growth decisions.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 5 years' experience in Road Freight business development.
• Strong understanding of domestic and cross-border road freight operations.
• Proven track record of securing new transport business and achieving sales targets.
• Strong knowledge of transport costing, route planning and customer requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer relationship skills.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel for customer visits.

Desirable Experience

• Experience selling cross-border transport solutions within the SADC region.
• Exposure to fleet, clearing, border processes and customer service requirements.
• Experience serving mining, FMCG, manufacturing, retail, industrial or agricultural customers.
• Experience with long-term transport contracts and tender submissions.