In the haulage and logistics industry, thousands of fleets are operated every day. Every single haulage operation must obey legal requirements. In addition, each vehicle should be in perfect condition and cost-efficient. The person in charge of all these things is the transport manager. To qualify for this position, many people decide to take a transport manager course.
Why do you need to take lessons to manage logistics and haulage? This is because in the UK, you need a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Transport Management to work in transport control. You need to take an exam that tests your knowledge on haulage or transport. If you want to work in the field of logistics, learn all about the transport manager course in this article!
What is a transport manager?
A transport manager is someone who oversees a fleet of units and all their supporting drivers. This person ensures that all drivers have valid licences for the vehicles they operate. The manager is also in charge of checking the fleets to ensure they are taxed, insured, properly maintained, and loaded safely.
This position is in high demand by every business with a Standard National or Standard International operator licence. In addition, this role is required by law. UK law mandates that companies with goods vehicles that weigh over 3.5 tonnes must have an expert to ensure they comply with all regulations. Thus, a transport manager course is highly demanded.
Taking a transport manager course can be a good investment for the future of your career. The salary for this position, on average, is about £30,000 per year. If you are more experienced, you can earn up to £58,000 in a year. The role typically involves 37 to 44 hours of work per week. Depending on the employer and nature of operations, it may also include shift work, evening hours, weekends, or bank holidays.
Transport manager course content
As someone in charge of logistics or haulage, you will be dealing with different types of vehicles. However, you don’t actually need a driving licence to work in this field. This is because you will not be operating any vehicle. Instead, you will be managing a fleet of units and drivers as a whole. Thus, you need a professional qualification called the Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). A transport manager course can help you pass this qualification.
A transport manager course will prepare you with skills and knowledge in multiple topics that have been set out by the law. You will learn subjects that range from law to finance. After you finish your education and pass the exam, your certification is valid for life. However, you should still regularly upgrade your professional knowledge in these subjects.
Civil law
In this subject, you will learn about the types of contracts in road transport as well as any rights and obligations that arise from them. You should also know how to negotiate a legally valid transport contract. If your work focuses on haulage transport, you should also understand how compensation claims work when goods are damaged, lost, or delivered late.
Commercial law
In a transport manager course, you will learn about the general obligations of a transport operator, such as registration and record-keeping. Furthermore, you should have knowledge of the various forms of commercial companies and their rules. This subject will teach you about the different types of business structures and the pros and cons of each.
Social law
A transport manager course prepares you with social law knowledge. This is because the logistics and haulage industry touches the livelihood of many different kinds of people. Thus, you should be familiar with the roles and functions of various social institutions that are involved in road transport, for example, trade unions and labour inspectors. Social law also includes understanding the criteria for drivers and the training they must undergo.
Fiscal law
The goal of learning fiscal law is to understand the rules of VAT (Value-Added Tax) on transport services. This includes the registration process for VAT, VAT rates in the UK, as well as VAT payments and refunds. You should also know the requirements of charging VAT if a vehicle ventures on an international journey. It is also important to remember the environmental impact of heavy vehicles. Therefore, you also learn about the fees you must pay to keep all transportation procedures environmentally sustainable.
Business and financial management
A transport manager course teaches you all about the business and financial management in transportation services. For example, if you work in passenger transport, you should understand the rules on fares and invoicing of public and private passenger transport. Meanwhile, if you work in road haulage, you should understand the rules about the invoicing of road freight services.
Access to the market
Operating road transport requires a complete set of documents relating to the vehicle, the driver, and the cargo. In a transport manager course, you will learn all about these documents and the checking procedures required. You will also learn about the rules on road transport for hire or reward, as well as vehicle rental.
Technical standards and aspects of operation
Each country has its own rules regarding the weight and dimensions of vehicles that can pass in certain areas. Thus, you will learn how to choose fleets and their components to comply with the rules of road operation. For example, you may need to adjust the engine, transmission system, or braking system.
Road safety
Any work in transportation or logistics needs to prioritise safety. If you are in charge of a fleet of vehicles, you need to regularly check the qualifications of the drivers and the condition of the units, equipment, and cargo. If an accident happens, you need to lay down the proper procedures to deal with the consequences. A transport manager course trains you to oversee drivers, ensure vehicle qualifications are in order, and take quick action in case of accidents.
Transport manager course examination
After completing your transport manager course, you need to take an exam that proves your competence. The exam must be approved by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the National Logistics Training Consortium (NLTC), the Skills and Education Group (SEG) Awards, the NOCN Group, Innovate Awarding, or City & Guilds.
In the UK, there are two types of the Transport Manager CPC exam. You must pass both types of exam if you want to be in charge of both types of vehicle.
- Road haulage: A transport manager course has two major divisions, depending on the exam you want to take. The road freight exam is suitable if you want to work in goods vehicle operation, such as HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or van companies.
- Road passenger transport: Take this exam if you want to work in public service vehicle operations, like bus or coach companies.
Final thoughts: Should you take a transport manager course?
You should take a transport manager course if you want to work in road haulage or road passenger transport management. Most job openings in this position will require the Transport Manager CPC, which you can earn after taking an exam. This exam tests your knowledge of law, business management, road safety, and other skills.
Even after you become a qualified transport manager, you should still sharpen your skills and knowledge in these subjects. The College of Contract Management is the perfect place to upgrade your skills in this ever-moving job market. We offer online classes in various fields, so you can learn at your convenience. Visit our site and enrol today to land a career in the field of your dreams!
