Head of Transport jobs
Logistics is all about moving things from A to B, so having people in constant touch with the transport that does the moving is essential. Enter the head of transport, the logistics company’s hand on the tiller of the whole fleet.
The head of transport’s job is many-pronged: keeping the transport arm running in keeping with the company’s aims and policies; managing the personnel who drive, maintain and administrate the vehicles; keeping on the right side of the law in this heavily legislated sector; achieving or and maintaining customer satisfaction; and maintaining and seeking out efficiencies wherever possible whilst sticking to the aforementioned requirements.
In summary, if the fleet is running safely and profitably and customer complaints are minimised or eliminated, the head of transport is doing a good job. The degree of scope that there is for using the budget in the way that she or sees deems best will depend on the employer, but as with any management job there will usually be some freedom to control the budget from the best possible viewpoint.
The skills required
A strong eye for maintaining cost efficiencies will be a key skill, so someone with experience of running a busy department or section will be at an advantage for this role. Experience of dealing with the legal side of transportation, from road safety law to import and export law will be important.
An ability to think on one’s feet will be required, as such a 24/7 job as managing a transport fleet can throw up problems at any time of day, and not always through the fault of the transport head. If the head of transport can show that they are able to remedy problems to the satisfaction of clients, they will quickly become a valued member of the management team.
Heads of transport must be team players who can work well under pressure and who know when to delegate work to trusted individuals.
Head of Transport Jobs in Sunderland
A local district in the county of Tyne and Wear, Sunderland is situated at the mouth of the River Wear and for hundreds of years, the region served as a port, mainly trading products like coal and salt.
Throughout the Industrial Revolution, Sunderland's economy was based on industries like brewing, glassmaking, pottery and rope making.
From the 14th century onwards, Sunderland was also an important place for shipbuilding. In 1814, there were 24 shipyards in the region and by 1840 this number had risen to 65. By the middle of the 20th century, a significant portion of the country's merchant and naval ships were produced here.
The last of the shipyards, however, closed in 1988 and much of the other heavy industry has also disappeared from the region. Today, the economy of Sunderland is now mainly based in the service sector, although a number of factories and production facilities still exist.
Those seeking Head of Transport roles in Sunderland will have a range of options to consider and a number of companies operate regional offices, warehouses and other facilities in the region - including Littlewoods and LG Electronics.
Berghaus, an outdoor clothing manufacturer has its head office in Sunderland and so does Arriva, the public transport company. The 2 Sisters Food Group, which supplies poultry, fish, chilled and frozen items and bakery goods to supermarkets, also has a site here.
Meanwhile the Nissan car plant in Sunderland is the largest factory of its kind in the UK and produces vehicles like the Micra, Note and Qashqai.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Cast UK have jobs in every county and every city of the UK, so we are well placed to find you work in logistics, procurement or supply chain wherever you are located or wherever you plan to locate. If you’re moving house, please see if there are any positions available in the area you’re moving to; and if you’re simply looking for more fulfilment in your working life, there’s more than likely an employer who’s looking for the skills you have.
We were founded by logistics, supply chain and procurement specialists, and our consultants are all from these backgrounds too, so we have in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for. Employers come to us to find candidates because they’re confident that we’ll help them find the most appropriate managers and executives.
Once we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise, so do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in logistics.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Transport for your business or find you a job as a Head of Transport then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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