Transport Manager

The Role

My client is looking for an experienced and highly organised Transport Manager to take day-to-day ownership of their transport and fleet compliance. This is a hands-on role covering the complete fleet, including HGVs operating under the Operator Licence, vans and light commercial vehicles, truck-mounted MEWPs, trailers, plant and specialist access vehicles.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring vehicles, drivers and transport activities are managed safely, legally and efficiently. You will work closely with the workshop, fleet, planning, access and compliance teams, maintaining strong systems for maintenance, defects, inspections, tachographs, driver compliance and Operator Licence obligations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the Company’s Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and ensure all undertakings and licence conditions are met.

• Maintain the forward maintenance planner and book PMIs, servicing, MOTs/annual tests, brake tests and statutory inspections.

• Coordinate maintenance and repairs with the internal workshop and external maintenance providers.

• Manage vehicle defects from initial report through to rectification and sign-off, including placing vehicles VOR where required.

• Maintain inspection and maintenance control across HGVs, vans, truck-mounted MEWPs, trailers, plant and specialist vehicles.

• Monitor vehicle roadworthiness, tyres, recalls, tachograph calibration, insurance, tax, MOT and other statutory documentation.

• Carry out regular DVLA licence checks and monitor driver entitlements, Driver CPC/DQC and tachograph card validity.

• Ensure tachograph vehicle units and driver cards are downloaded within required timescales.

• Review drivers’ hours and tachograph infringements, obtain driver explanations, identify trends and arrange coaching or escalation where required.

• Monitor missing mileage, unidentified driving, manual entries and repeat infringement patterns.

• Audit daily walk around checks, driver defect reporting, maintenance records, brake testing and workshop documentation.

• Work with planners to challenge journeys or work allocations that cannot be completed safely or legally.

• Monitor fleet compliance KPIs, including PMI completion, MOT performance, brake testing, VOR vehicles, infringement rates and fleet downtime.

• Support transport-related accident, incident and DVSA investigations and ensure corrective actions are completed.

• Maintain accurate, complete and auditable transport records and fleet management system data.

Authority & Accountability

This role must have the confidence and authority to make compliance-led decisions. The Transport Manager will be expected to place vehicles VOR, prevent unsafe vehicles from being used, stop an unqualified or incorrectly licensed driver from driving, challenge unsafe planning decisions and require defects to be rectified before a vehicle returns to service.

Safety, roadworthiness and legal compliance must take priority over operational convenience or vehicle availability.
 
What They Are Looking For

• Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) – Road Haulage.

• Strong knowledge of Operator Licensing, DVSA roadworthiness requirements and vehicle maintenance systems.

• Good working knowledge of drivers’ hours, tachograph regulations and infringement management.

• Experience managing a mixed commercial vehicle fleet, including HGVs and light commercial vehicles.

• Experience with maintenance planning, PMIs, defect management, MOTs and brake testing.

• Strong organisational, audit and record-keeping skills.

• Confident communicator who can work effectively with drivers, engineers, planners and senior management.

• Able to challenge unsafe or non-compliant decisions professionally and…