Job Title: Transport Manager

Salary: £65,000 per annum

Location: Northamptonshire

Job Type: Full-Time

Role Purpose

Responsible for leading safe, legal, and commercially successful haulage operations. This role manages operational staff and drivers, promoting a culture of ownership and accountability to ensure exceptional customer service. The position holds overall responsibility for fleet management, legal compliance, budget adherence, and supplier management. This role also carries O-Licence responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Haulage, Compliance & Fleet Operations

• Ensure full legal compliance in all areas of transport and fleet operations.

• Manage the reporting and publication of Service, Revenue, and Cost KPIs, aligned with performance targets.

• Drive best practices in Health & Safety, ensuring adherence to SSOWs and fostering a strong safety culture.

• Maintain and develop standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency and compliance across operations.

• Oversee management of fleet, fuel usage, subcontractors, and other suppliers, ensuring cost efficiency and service quality.

• Maximise fleet uptime while managing operational costs.

Customer Service

• Champion high levels of service, ensuring customer satisfaction remains at the core of all transport activities.

• Develop strong relationships with clients, internal departments, and external suppliers to continually improve service delivery.

Commercial

• Monitor and manage all operational costs, with a strong focus on fleet-related expenditure.

• Report regularly on revenue, cost performance, and budget variances.

• Identify and implement continuous improvements across key operational areas including vehicle utilisation, fuel efficiency, maintenance, training, and compliance.

People Management

• Lead, develop, and manage a team including planners, supervisors, administrators, and drivers.

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for operational and driving staff.

• Implement structured training and development plans, supporting career progression and succession planning.

• Ensure adequate staffing levels and holiday cover to maintain operational continuity.

• Coach and mentor team members to foster high performance and initiative.

• Lead on employee relations matters, including investigations and disciplinary processes, in collaboration with HR.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Service Levels & OCRS Scores

• Haulage P&L Performance

• Fleet Costs vs. Budget

• Staff Retention and Absence Rates

• Resolution of Service Issues within 24 Hours

• Compliance with WTD and Tachograph Rules

Direct Reports

• Transport Operations Supervisor

• Transport Planning Supervisor

• Compliance Manager

• Drivers

• Fleet Administrator

• Garage Staff

• Night Shift Manager

Routine Activities

Daily

• Driver engagement

• Morning briefings and issue resolution

• Liaison with warehouse and planning teams

Weekly

• KPI reviews and performance updates

• Budget monitoring and expenditure approval

• Coordination of training activities

Monthly

• Driver briefings and safety talks

• Review of vehicle performance metrics

• H&S reporting and financial performance reviews

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• National CPC qualification (essential)

• Experience managing a multi-customer, multi-drop, groupage transport operation

• Strong knowledge of transport legislation (including EU tachograph, WTD, vehicle weights & dimensions)

• Experience with KPI design, supplier management, and cost control

• Competent with IT systems including Transport Management Systems (TMS)

• Experience managing fleets with a mix of manufacturer R&M agreements and local service providers

Leadership Competencies

• Strong communicator at all levels

• Resilient and solutions-focused

• Excellent people management and team leadership skills

• Capable of working under pressure with a pragmatic, adaptable approach

• High levels of integrity, approachability, and professionalism