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Road transport manager
Hours
38 per week
Starting salary
£22,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
Road transport managers plan and coordinate road haulage, distribution and passenger transport operations, including routes and schedules. They make sure that goods and passengers reach their destinations safely, on time and in the most cost-effective way.
As a transport manager, your duties could include:
- working with suppliers and customers, planning routes and scheduling delivery times
- managing a team of supervisors, administration staff and drivers
- making sure the operation meets its targets
- coordinating staff training
- putting together performance reports for directors
- arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
- organising vehicle replacements
- managing contracts and developing new business.
You would also make sure that all operations are carried out in line with UK and EU laws and regulations. These govern vehicle safety, controls on fuel emissions, driver hours, customs requirements, and the transportation of food, livestock and hazardous goods.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would normally work about 38 hours a week, but this may include shiftwork and weekends to cover 24-hour operations.
Your time would be split between the office, the transport depot and your clients' premises.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £22,000 and £24,000 a year
- With experience this can rise to between £25,000 and £35,000
- Senior managers can earn over £47,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
A common way into this role is to develop your transport skills as a driver, team leader or administrator, before applying for promotion to road transport manager. Management experience from other sectors may also give you an advantage when looking for work.
If you have a foundation degree, BTEC HND, degree or postgraduate award in a relevant subject, you could try to find a place on a management trainee programme. Relevant subjects include logistics, supply chain management, transport management and business management.
To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website.
For more general information about careers and qualifications in the road transport industry, see the Skills for Logistics and GoSkills websites.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
At least one staff member (usually a manager) in every road transport business is legally required to have the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Therefore, you would normally train for this qualification once you start work.
There are four types of Certificate: National or International Road Haulage Operations, and National or International Passenger Transport Operations. You would train for the Certificate relevant to your business. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) has more details about the CPC.
You could also study for CILT UK Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications in Transport and Logistics. You would register as an Affiliate member with the Institute and take the award that matches your level of experience and responsibility. The courses cover all aspects of the job, including:
- freight operations
- passenger operations
- transport planning
- project management.
You can search for training providers on the CILT UK website.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- strong organisational skills for planning schedules, journeys and loads
- excellent budget handling skills
- the ability to think logically
- the ability to work flexibly and to make decisions quickly
- excellent communication skills and the ability to deal with people at all levels
- IT skills
- good leadership and motivational skills
- a good understanding of transport regulations
- good geographical knowledge.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Skills for Logistics 
12 Warren Yard
Warren Farm Office Village
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
Tel: 01908 313360
www.skillsforlogistics.org
People 1st
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.people1st.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK)
Logistics and Transport Centre
Earlstrees Court
Earlstrees Road
Corby
Northants
NN17 4AX
Tel: 01536 740104
www.ciltuk.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Typical employers include distribution, bus and coach companies, parcel couriers, manufacturers and retail chains, vehicle hire firms and contract fleets.
With experience, you could move between different sectors or specialise in other modes of transport, such as rail, sea or air. You could also move into transport planning and consultancy.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The road haulage industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; wholesaling; storage and warehousing; freight forwarding; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.
Road haulage is the distribution, movement and supply of goods by road. Road haulage, which includes removal services, is the third largest industry in the logistics sector. The amount of freight that was moved in the UK increased by 46% between 1980 and 2007. The majority of the increase is due to goods being moved by road.
Key facts:
- 13% of the logistics sector workforce is within freight transport by road.
- Road haulage now accounts for 68% of all goods moved compared with 53% in 1980.
- A total of 220,000 people are employed in UK road haulage in the UK, which is estimated to be 13% of the entire logistics sector workforce.
- There are 34,000 road haulage workplaces in the UK.
- Freight transport by road employs the smallest proportion of women and people with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background than other logistics industries.
- 12% of the industry workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: LGV driver, LGV training instructor, distribution manager, removals worker, road transport manager, van driver, transport planner, transport scheduler, road haulage load planner, drivers mate, supply chain manager, operations manager, yard person, training manager, marketing co‐ordinator, operations director, freight account manager, financial planning manager, general manager.
National and regional data
East Midlands – Of the 156,600 employees working in logistics businesses in the East Midlands, 20,600 work in road haulage. This equates to 13% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.
East of England – Of the 186,700 employees working in logistics businesses in the East of England, 28,100 of these individuals work in road haulage. This is 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
London – Of the 178,800 employees working in logistics businesses in London, 8,900 work in road haulage. This accounts for 5% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North East – Of the 55,000 people employed in logistics businesses in the region, 9,900 people are employed in road haulage. This is 18% of the logistics workforce in the region.
North West – Of the 193,400 people working in logistics businesses in the North West, 31,300 people are employed in road haulage. This accounts for 16% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South East – Of the 256,300 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, the road haulage industry employs 21,800 employees. This equates to 8% of the logistics workforce in the region.
South West – Of the 135,100 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 15,700 work in road haulage. This accounts for 12% of the logistics workforce in the region.
West Midlands – Of the 187,500 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 26,100 work in road haulage. This accounts for 14% of the logistics workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – Of the 158,100 employees working in logistics businesses in the region, 23,300 work in road haulage. This accounts for 15% of the logistics workforce in the region.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]
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