Transport Manager

Who Is A Transport Manager?

A transport manager is anyone saddled with the responsibility of managing all matters connected to transportation in an organisation. They oversee the procurement, operation, and servicing of vehicles in the company. All transport managers need a transport manager CPC certification.

The manager ensures that the organisation’s vehicles are in perfect condition and comply with transport laws. They supervise drivers and increase the awareness of their duties.

Without a manager, managing transportation activities in an organisation will be difficult. The manager plays a significant role in businesses that require a fleet for their operations.

What Are The Duties Of A Transport Manager?

Before hiring a manager, you must understand roles attached to the position. This increases your chances of choosing the right person to occupy such a key role in your business.

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The following are common duties of a Transport Manager:

1. Oversee logistics

Logistics refers to the movement of people and goods. The manager is expected to determine the most efficient ways to move the organisation’s employees and cargo.

2. Monitor safety of the organisation’s transport operation

It is important that those driving the organisation’s vehicles are doing so with respect for safety. This is to prevent road mishaps involving the company’s vehicles, which can be costly to manage.

3. Train members of driving staff

Although safety technology has improved, driver expertise is still important to reduce safety risks. The manager trains company drivers based on his knowledge of safety procedures and transport regulations.

The manager also makes sure that drivers have correct qualifications. For instance, he may have to procure driving entitlements for drivers before they drive certain vehicles.

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4. Oversee vehicle maintenance

Keeping an organisation’s vehicles in prime condition is one of the manager’s major roles. She has to conduct routine inspections and arrange for periodic maintenance. If a vehicle breaks down, the manager must make arrangements to fix it.

5. Create schedules and handle records

The transport manager organises members of the organisation’s transportation team and creates schedules to regulate working hours.

For instance, the manager must ensure drivers aren’t pulling extended shifts or getting overworked.

The manager is also responsible for keeping all records associated with a company’s transportation operation. Hence, most employers often require that managers have record-keeping skills.

clipboard on car engine held by transport manager completing vehicle maintenance tasks

What Laws Should A Transport Manager Be Knowledgeable Of?

One of the most significant duties of a manager relates to compliance.

She must ensure that all aspects of your transport operation—both the vehicles and drivers—comply with the law.

Legislation and legal standards associated with vehicles are constantly changing. Without a manager keeping touch with these changes, your organisation may run afoul of transport laws.

This doesn’t mean the person must have a degree in law. However, he must have a good understanding of laws related to several aspects of company transportation, including:

Licence requirements
Driver working hours
Traffic laws
Health and safety of drivers
Employment legislation

While this list is hardly exhaustive, it covers the basic legal knowledge that your manager should have. Hiring a transportation manager who lacks knowledge of important laws exposes your drivers and vehicles to the risk of contravening regulations.

What Certification Does A Transport Manager Need?

A Transport Manager CPC

A Transport Manager CPC is a legal certificate that the department for transport offers to show that all goods and passenger vehicle operators are professionally competent to meet the operator licencing. Any person wishing to carry a formal road Transport business must have a Transport Manager CPC.

The work of a Transport Manager CPC is to manage the fleet operations of a company and overseeing employees under him by ensuring compliance with all the requirements of road and transport law. In addition, such employees may manage drivers, driver hours and repair and maintenance services.

Why do Transport Managers need a CPC?

For a company to qualify for Standard National or International Operators Licence, it must show that its Transport Manager is professionally competent by passing the examination for the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) set by OC R Examinations.
Another reason a transport manager would want to get a CPC is to increase his value both professionally and as a manager.
And lastly, because it is a legal requirement the operator licensing system for a person seeking a career in transport management, they must get a Certificate of Professional Competence. Transport Manager CPC is a level 3 qualification, which is the minimum qualification for holding an Operator’s Licence issued by the Traffic Commissioner. You would need to sit and pass the relevant exams to be awarded the CPC.

Internal And External Transport Manager CPC Holder

An Internal Transport Manager is a Transport manager CPC holder who a company with an operator licence directly employs to render competent professional services. In contrast, an External Transport Manager CPC holder is a qualified professional who works for minor and medium-sized operators to make sure their fleet is fit for the road and comply with traffic and drivers’ hour’s rules.

Read more: Fleet Management System

It is essential for a company seeking an External Transport Manager CPC holder to know that an External Transport Manager CPC holder must be a person and not an entity like a limited company. Such a person must also be in direct contact with the operator.

With an Operator Licence, small to medium-sized fleet companies can take up the services of an External Transport Manager CPC Holder to reduce their company expenses and maintain their obligations without lowering professional standards required by the enforcement and regulatory bodies. A Transport Manager CPC Holder should be within operating premise or at a reasonable distance if he is an external transport manager. A general rule of thumb is that 2 hours is a maximum travel time.

5 Reasons Why Transport Managers Need A Fleet Management Software

In the past, managers had to do everything manually. This includes logging driver hours, tracking vehicle maintenance, recording operator details, and many more.

However, car fleet management software like Vimcar have made transport management easier. Activities that were hitherto once difficult can easily be automated using the Vimcar Fleet Geo software.

Here are other reasons Vimcar is a must-have for managers of transport fleets:

1. Reduces costs

Fleet management software is useful for reducing a company’s transport costs. From optimising routes to reduce fuel consumption to preventing costly accidents, Vimcar is the best friend of every prudent manager of transport operations.

2. Makes it easier to schedule maintenance

Since managers are humans, they can lose track of scheduled maintenance activities. However, Vimcar makes prompt servicing possible by notifying you when it’s time for scheduled maintenance.

3. Guarantee efficient route planning

Vimcar Fleet Geo can monitor traffic situations to help you plan driver journeys. By avoiding gridlocked roads, drivers spend less time in traffic, which reduces fuel consumption and boosts worker efficiency.

4. Makes round-the-clock vehicle tracking possible

As the manager oversees transport activities, he is responsible if vehicles get stolen. Vimcar Fleet Geo has GPS tracking system abilities, which makes it possible to retrieve vehicles in event of theft.

5. Helps to detect driver misconduct

The manager isn’t all-seeing, so she may be unaware of driver misconduct. With Vimcar, monitoring driver behaviour is easier.

For instance, time-fencing features alert managers if a company vehicle is used outside working hours. Also, geo-fencing will notify you if drivers take the vehicle outside the preset route.

transport manager station underground train

Conclusion

Whether you own a small business or a large organisation, a manager is important to your transport activities. Hence, it is advisable to hire a manager with a clear understanding of roles and transport laws.

But getting a good manager isn’t enough; a fleet management software like Vimcar is crucial. Vimcar Fleet Geo makes your manager’s job easier and improves your transport operation.

You may also like these other glossary terms: Corporate Car Sharing, Electric Car, Fleet Telematics UK and Fleet Manager