Transport Controller jobs
Logistics companies cannot exist without their vehicles and drivers, and it is the job of the transport controller to ensure that both of these pieces of the jigsaw are working harmoniously and are legal. The controller could also be in charge of recruitment of drivers and the creation of a team of either permanent staff, agency workers or a blend of both, as well as admin and office staff.
The transport controller will need to ensure that all vehicles are kept in a roadworthy state and comply with all the legal requirements of their classes. The same applies to the drivers, who must be in possession of the correct licences and certificates to haul the particular goods the company specialises in. It will be down to the transport controller to ensure compliance in all these elements is observed.
Maintaining efficiency in his or her department will also be a key responsibility. They will be expected to seek the best deals for fuel, or indeed to negotiate them, and will also need to keep the vehicles in tip top condition so that they are at their optimum efficiency. Modern analysis tools allow driver behaviour to be monitored too, and the transport manager will need to stay abreast of such technologies and use them to the company’s advantage where available.
The skills required
The transport controller is a position of great responsibility as regards the legal status and profitability of the logistics company, and he or she should be able to shoulder the pressure with confidence to succeed. Working to tight deadlines will be normal in most depots; there are rarely slack periods in logistics. Being able to communicate well both verbally and in writing will help enormously.
A good understanding of the law surrounding HGVs and other goods vehicles will usually be required, and any knowledge of the specific laws pertaining to the specific goods carried by the company will usually be an advantage, although most logistics companies will ensure that all its staff are familiar with these elements.
Transport Controller Jobs in Torquay
Torquay is located on the East-facing coastal area of Devon, in the area called Torbay. Exeter is 17 miles (27 km) to the north and Plymouth is 27 miles (43 k) to the west. Torquay was a tiny fishing and farming village until the Napoleonic wars, when the Royal Navy would take anchor in the bay and the members of the upper ranks would often go to shore in the area. It soon gained a reputation as being a healthy place to stay and by the 19th century, just in time for the arrival of the railways it became a famous spa town and later, a tourist resort. Nowadays it has a static population of around 65,000 but in high season this can swell to 200,000, the size of a small city.
Tourist towns almost always have great logistical requirements, which is why Transport Controller jobs can sometimes become available in the town or the surrounding area. Torquay is not particularly industrialised, but there are several trading estates dotted around the outskirts. Plymouth and Exeter are better employers and are both nearby, which does make Torquay a popular commuter town, and people living there seeking non-tourism related work will often look north and west.
For its population, Torquay has produced a fair number of world-famous people. Top of the pile is thriller author Agatha Christie, for whom a mile of plaques, the “Agatha Christie Mile”, is dedicated. Peter Cook, one half of Pete and Dud, was born in the town, as was comedy actor Miranda Hart and model Lily Cole. Sketches of The Goodies and Monty Python’s Flying Circus were filmed there, and it was during one of the latter’s stays that the team happened upon a grumpy hotelier who became the inspiration for Basil Fawlty, TV’s most famous Torquay-based hotel owner.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Cast UK’s recruitment consultants work with a host of employers around the UK to ensure positions are filled by the best people, and many of them approach us to create a shortlist rather than advertising jobs nationally or locally. We have specialists for every UK region and all the major cities, so wherever you are, we could have a position for you.
Whether you're moving house, looking to change employer or are simply seeking a change in career, get in touch with Cast UK. Our own staff are all source from within procurement, logistics and supply chain, and these are the backgrounds of our founder members, so we fully understand the needs of the industry.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Transport Controller for your business or find you a job as a Transport Controller then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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