Freight transport management, driving and vehicle maintenance are elements of the supply chain – the movement of materials from the supplier, sourced by the organisation’s buyers, from raw stocks, through production, to become finished goods that are then distributed to customers. Transport and logistics is a diverse sector that plays a major role in the UK and global economy. Within the industry, the term ‘logistics’ refers to the movement of freight. It is often described by the method of goods transportation (i.e. road, sea, air or rail), however large logistics companies use all types of transport within a variety of industries.

The UK logistics sector is worth almost £75 billion to the economy, employing around 2.3 million people in some 196,000 companies. Freight logistics companies fall into two groups: those that manage their own distribution system and those that manage it on behalf of another company; the latter organisations are referred to as third-party logistics (3PL). According to Skills for Logistics (the Sector Skills Council for the UK’s freight logistics industries), over 60% of UK freight is carried out for ‘hire and reward’ (i.e. 3PL) on behalf of another company.

The industry has previously suffered from major skills shortages, in particular of larger goods vehicles (LGV) drivers. The past decade has seen a reduction in the number of drivers passing the LGV test: only 18% of recruits into companies were new trainees – the vast majority came from other road transport employers. However, recruitment of LGV drivers is not currently a major concern for employers, although recruiting women and people from minority ethnic groups into the profession is still proving a difficult task. Logistics currently suffers from the misguided perception that it is a difficult industry in which to develop a successful career path.
 
Although, as noted above, there is a growing trend towards utilising various forms of logistics and transportation companies, it is still very much the case that road freight transport makes up the majority of the market, at around 65%. It is the main mode of freight transport (around 82% of freight moved around the UK is transported by road), with rail, water and air transport being smaller operations, highlighting that road transportation accounts for the movement of considerably more freight than its total market share would suggest.
 
According to the latest figures available from the Department for Transport (DfT), the amount of freight moved by GB-registered heavy goods vehicles within Great Britain increased by 4% between 2006 and 2007, from 156 billion tonne kilometres to 161 billion tonne kilometres. Articulated vehicles (‘artics’) over 33 tonnes gross weight continued to account for an increasing share of all goods moved: 73% of total tonne kilometres. The amount of freight lifted increased to 1,869 million tonnes, while there has been a long-term increase in overall average length of haul, to 86 kilometres. However, just over half of all goods were lifted on a trip of 50 kilometres or less.
 
The DfT figures also show that UK-registered vehicles carried 5.1 million tonnes of goods out of the UK (33% less than in 1997), while more than 6 million tonnes of goods were carried into the UK (25% less than in 1997). There are some 446,000 goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kg) registered in Great Britain, with 73% of them being rigids (where the truck is all one unit and is usually easier to handle).
 
The industry is heavily reliant on subcontractors and smaller haulage firms, and needs extensive, well-structured and continuing training to recruit and retain drivers.
 
 
Employment
 
Freight transport specialists (managers and drivers) work in:

• National and local government
• Freight transport companies
• Travel and tourism
• Coal, oil, steel, gas and electricity industries
• Ports and airports
• Mail and parcel delivery
• Breweries, supermarkets, clothing and food manufacturers
• Consultancies
• Subcontractors to all of the above. 

Transport management opportunities exist in functions including:

• Planning
• Customer services
• Engineering
• Research and development
• Operations and fleet management
• Information technology
• Industrial design
• Analysis
• Health and safety
• The environment. 

E-commerce has started to change the logistics of goods’ sale and delivery, and has created new demands for customer service skills among drivers. Information technology has revolutionised the way in which vehicles and loads can be planned and monitored.
 
 
Qualifications and training
 
There are five main routes into transport management.

1. Graduate training entrants join management-training programmes run by employers. Degrees may be in transport and logistics, or in more general qualifications.
2. Postgraduate entry applicants will have an MSc in logistics or supply-chain management, or an MBA in an appropriate discipline.
3. Graduates with management experience may look for a career change into transport and logistics, and will need to gain the necessary knowledge.
4. Some school leavers with A-levels may move into management through on-the-job experience, while also studying for professional exams.
5. Professional qualifications, which must reflect the needs of the profession and employers.

 
Whatever the entry route, the following personal qualities are valued in people working in this field:

• Core technology skills

– PC literacy
– Communications
– Machinery
– Warehousing
– Warehouse management
– Analysis

• People skills

• Level 2 Certificate – for new employees or students; provides a broad understanding of logistics and transport.
• Level 3 Certificate – designed to provide a solid foundation for a career within the transport, logistics and supply chain sectors; aims to equip existing and potential supervisors and first-line managers with a complete set of management skills; the qualification offers two different routes – competency and examination.
• Level 5 Professional Diploma – a professional qualification for those individuals already working within logistics and transport who wish to develop a strategic view of logistics and transport operations, and to become capable of reviewing operational activities; the Professional Diploma provides the educational standard for full Membership of the Institute (MILT).
• Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport – strategic qualification providing those strategic management skills required for professional and business development for individuals in the logistics and transport sectors.
• MSc International Logistics and Supply Chain Management/MSc International Transport and Logistics – providing the necessary skills and knowledge to bridge the gap between operational and strategic management, to fulfil professional potential and enhance strategic capabilities for the benefit of both individual and their organisation.  

 
Although there are others, the basic heavy vehicle licence categories are:

• Category C licence – vehicles over 3,500 kg with a trailer up to 750 kg; thesevehicles are known as ‘rigids’
• Category C+E licence – vehicles over 3,500 kg with a trailer over 750 kg; these vehicles are known as ‘artics’ (the main difference between an artic and a rigid is that the cab of an artic can disconnect from the trailer).

LGV (C) licence holders require a current clean B licence, and a minimum age of 21. Some insurers may insist that people driving certain loads, like hazardous chemicals, are over 30. Employers and trainers look for ability at reading, writing and maths, and require an aptitude test. Everyone requires a medical exam, including eyesight and colour blindness tests. Freight transport vocational qualifications are available as national and Scottish vocational qualifications, and as apprenticeships.
 
The Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a level 3 Europe-wide qualification, and every road transport business requires at least one member of staff to hold it so that it can hold an Operator’s (O) Licence. It is available at two levels:

1. a national certificate to manage organisations within the UK, and
2. an international certificate to manage undertakings across Europe.

 
New EU legislation (which came into force in the UK on 10 September 2009) requires that anyone holding this existing ‘Transport Manager’s CPC’, also known as ‘Operator’s CPC’, who still drives professionally as part of their job, will also need to hold the new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). In order to comply with this, professional drivers need to complete 35 hours of ‘periodic training’ every five years at an approved training centre. Existing professional lorry drivers are deemed to already hold Driver CPC by ‘acquired rights’, however they must complete periodic training within five years of the introduction of Driver CPC (e.g. by 9 September 2014 for existing LGV licence holders).
 
Every company involved in the transportation of dangerous goods must have a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA), who must pass the necessary courses to become qualified in:

• Basic dangerous goods transport
• Safe transport of dangerous goods in small packages
• Completing and checking dangerous goods transport documents
• Safe loading of dangerous goods vehicles and containers.