Become a transport manager
Overview
Vehicle operators with a standard national or international operator’s licence need to have a transport manager.
What a transport manager does
As a transport manager, you need to make sure that:
- drivers have a valid licence
- vehicles are taxed and insured
- vehicles have a valid MOT and are properly maintained
- vehicles are loaded safely and not overloaded
- drivers do not speed or break the drivers’ hours rules
- the vehicle operator does not break safety rules
You can be called to appear before a traffic commissioner’s public inquiry if the vehicle operator breaks the law. You can be permanently or temporarily banned from being a transport manager if the traffic commissioner finds that you’re responsible - for example, if staff loaded a vehicle in an unsafe way because they were not properly trained.
The traffic commissioner can also make you complete further training before you can work as a transport manager again.
Find out about what you need to do as a transport manager.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, the public enquiry will be held by the Transport Regulation Unit instead of the traffic commissioner.
Becoming a transport manager
You need a professional qualification called the Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to become a transport manager. You do not need a driving licence.
After you’re qualified, a vehicle operator needs to apply to add you as their transport manager on their operator’s licence.
You must be approved by the traffic commissioner before you start work - or the Transport Regulation Unit if you’re in Northern Ireland. You may not be approved if you’ve been convicted of a crime or given a penalty for breaking UK or EU transport laws.
You must keep your knowledge up to date to continue working as a transport manager.
If you have more than 10 years’ experience
You may be able to become a transport manager without getting the Transport Manager CPC if both of the following apply:
- you’re going to work for a vehicle operator that transports goods out of the UK in a van, or in a van or car towing a trailer
- you have at least 10 years’ experience in managing fleets of vehicles
You’ll be recognised as a transport manager until 21 May 2025. You’ll need the CPC qualification to continue as a transport manager after that date.
Find out more about being temporarily recognised as a transport manager for vans and cars.
Working for more than one vehicle operator
You can either:
- be employed by a single vehicle operator - called an ‘internal transport manager’
- work as a freelance transport manager for more than one vehicle operator - called an ‘external transport manager’
You can work as a freelance transport manager for up to 4 different vehicle operators at a time. The maximum total number of vehicles you can manage is 50. You need to have a contract with each operator that sets out what you’ll do.