Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Developing and Building Teams Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

The Work

Road transport managers take overall responsibility for the efficient and safe running of vehicles carrying passengers and/or goods by road.  
 
The duties of road transport managers differ slightly, depending on whether they are employed in passenger or freight (goods) transport. In companies that specialise in road freight, managers may be referred to as commercial/operations managers. They are responsible for a fleet of vehicles and their drivers. They ensure that deliveries get to customers on time and in good condition. They may also be required to have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  
 
In passenger transport, managers are responsible for scheduling services, trips and coach holidays. They also have to apply for, and make sure they keep, an Operator's Licence. The transport manager ensures that all vehicle maintenance histories have been recorded. They also arrange renewal of tax and insurance before deadlines. They must ensure that all claims are resolved on all road accidents involving company vehicles.  
 
Duties that both freight and passenger transport managers have in common include:

• Ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy and meet legal requirements
• Supervising drivers and maintenance staff
• Operating within a given budget and targets
• Maintaining accounts
• Allocating vehicles to drivers
• Making sure that drivers know where they are going and what time they have to be at their destination
• Making arrangements in case of breakdowns.

Road transport managers spend a lot of time on the telephone liaising with customers and employees. They also spend time dealing with paperwork and communicating with people by letter.  
 
In some companies, road transport managers may also be involved in the recruitment and training of staff, and the purchase and sale of vehicles.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials.
• Plan, develop, or implement warehouse safety and security programs and activities.
• Inspect physical conditions of warehouses, vehicle fleets, or equipment and order testing, maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
• Plan, organise, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organisational requirements.
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping.
• Analyse all aspects of corporate logistics to determine the most cost-effective or efficient means of transporting products or supplies.
• Resolve problems concerning transportation, logistics systems, imports or exports, or customer issues.
• Develop and document standard and emergency operating procedures for receiving, handling, storing, shipping, or salvaging products or materials.
• Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
• Analyse the financial impact of proposed logistics changes, such as routing, shipping modes, product volumes or mixes, or carriers.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Increasingly, new entrants are graduates. Larger, national companies are more willing to recruit graduates to management training schemes. You can develop your skills and learning towards a career in Logistics & Supply chain in many ways.  

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship HGV Driving, Supply Chain Logistics, Logistics and Distribution, Van Delivery Driver, Manufacturing Supply Chain and Customer Service Logistics, Supervisory Management Leadership Search FET Courses

FET Centre PLC Supply chain Transport logistics & distribution NFQ level 5-6 Search PLC courses

Apprenticeship Logistics Associate/Logistician, Supply Chain Specialist, Supply Chain Manager apprenticeship programmes at NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeship 

Higher education CAO entry Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Business (Supply Chain Management), Supply Chain Management, Road Transport Technology and Management, Sustainable Transport Management Search CAO Courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate study options: Supply Chain Management, Engineering - Process Energy & Transport, Engineering - Road & Transport Engineering, Engineering - Road & Transport Engineering at NFQ level 9-10

Springboard courses Logistics & supply chain management NFQ (Minor) level 6-9 awards Search Springboardcourses

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport offers Certificate and Diploma level courses in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, and Transport Operations

Freight transport assoc of Ireland 

SIMI Skillnet 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €45k - €70k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Morgan McKinley/ Lincoln/ Sigmar /Payscale/ Indeed/ Lincoln/ Clark/ Excel

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The overall five-year average employment growth for this occupation was above average, although employment levels declined marginally between 2021 and 2022. A small number of new employment permits were issued in 2022 for various managerial roles.

Vacancies which were identified as difficult-to-fill in the Recruitment Agency Survey mainly related to warehouse and logistics managers. Training for those already employed in this occupation in areas including technological and regulatory changes associated with the transport/logistics sector will assist in preventing future recruitment difficulties.

• Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI)

  • Unit 1, Airport Business Park, Cloghran, Co Dublin
  • (01) 844 7516
  • Click Here

• Irish Road Haulage Association

  • Suite 6 Gowna Plaza, Bracetown Business Park, Clonee Co. Meath
  • (01) 8013380
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Road Safety Authority (RSA)

  • Moy Business Park, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co.Mayo
  • (096) 25000 / LoCall 1890 506080
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here