Employers within the transport sector are always on the lookout for new, up and coming employees to add to their workforce. While there are a wide array of different job opportunities within the industry, one of the more sought-after positions to be filled is the role of the transport manager. Every transport company in the UK will require at least one transport manager to oversee the operations on a daily basis, which is why organisations are always keen to view people to take on this position.
In this blog, we are going to discuss the key roles and responsibilities of a transport manager, going over what they do on a day-to-day basis and why it is that their job is so important. If you are thinking about pursuing a career in the transport industry as a transport manager, it is important that you have a good understanding of what role you will need to undertake.
Checking For Qualified Drivers
If you are to become a transport manager, you will be put in charge of a team of drivers and it is your responsibility to ensure that they are all working to the best of their ability and that they are all fully qualified to be completing the tasks set out for them. The fleet of drivers that you will be in charge of will all be transporting loads that are likely to be expensive and are to be delivered to clients, who expect their cargo to be delivered exactly to their agreed timescale. For this reason, if an unqualified driver to sent out to make a delivery and the goods show up to the destination damaged or late, it could be the transport manager who is held responsible.
If someone is to become a truck driver, they will need to pass certain qualifications to show that they are capable of driving large vehicles with potentially heavy loads in a safe way. Obviously, keeping deliveries to a strict schedule is very important in the industry, but the number one priority is the safety of the driver and other road users. If one of your drivers is unqualified but is sent out to do a job, then there are multiple people being put at risk. Transport managers will need to check that drivers have completed all necessary LGV training and have been awarded a Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).
Ensuring Vehicle Maintenance
As a transport manager, it is paramount that you make sure that all of the vehicles in your fleet are in top condition. Drivers will be expected to arrive at their designated destination within a specific time frame, so completing checks of the vehicles to make sure they are fit to be driven long distances is an important step in making sure that this happens. By skipping the proper checks, the chances of a sudden breakdown increase. This can be both detrimental to the timekeeping of the job and also hazardous to the driver’s safety, as they may have to stop in a dangerous place. A transport manager will have the responsibility of making sure all the checks are completed, and any maintenance work is done before the driver sets off.
If transports managers come across any faults with a vehicle, it is their job to make sure that someone is called in to fix these issues. Arranging routine maintenance checks and repairs is a common part of the job of a transport manager, especially being in charge of overseeing a large fleet of vehicles. As you gain more experience in the role, you will become more familiar with what to look out for and who to contact when maintenance issues occur.
Keeping To Schedule
Being a transport manager can be a hectic job, so you will need to have your wits about you while assigning tasks to drivers, and making sure that they are all keeping to a tight schedule. It will your job to make sure that all drivers are briefed and notified about where each truck needs to be, and at what time. The majority of the time, clients will have asked for something to be delivered to them by a specific time because of the time frame at which their own project is being run, so a late delivery can result in unhappy customers and a potential loss of business.
Along with keeping on top of your team and motivating them to be driving both safely and efficiently, you will also need to be able to keep records of the team’s work. Transport managers need to have good organisational skills, as they will need to keep tabs on each driver’s schedules and whether or not they are completing tasks in a timely manner. Not only does this make your life easier if your boss asks for details on specific jobs, but you can also easily monitor your team members’ performances.
Contact Flagship Partners
Here at Flagship Partners, we are proud to be part of a large team of highly-skilled, experienced transport managers. If you are based in and around Peterborough and are in need of assistance with transport compliance, then look no further than Flagship Partners.
If you would like more information about the service we provide, you can head over to our transport compliance page. You can also check out our team of transport managers by heading over to our Transport Managers in Portsmouth page. If you have any other queries, please feel free to fill out our online contact form, or give us a call on 03300 553643.
