Transport Manager

Whistl UK Ltd; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK delivery management company is seeking a Transport Manager for its Bristol depot. The role requires overseeing transport operations, ensuring compliance, and managing costs while leading a team. Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in traffic/transport office management and a Transport Manager CPC. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including career development opportunities.

Benefits

Annual leave enhanced with long service

Company Pension

Health cash plan

Life assurance scheme

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience managing a busy traffic/transport office.
• Experience managing teams to achieve daily and weekly operational targets.
• Highly organized; able to prioritize workloads and manage conflicting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Plan daily resources across the network ensuring timely deliveries.
• Manage attendance and performance of staff.
• Monitor depot profit and loss and implement cost-saving initiatives.
• Promote a culture of safety and compliance within the team.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Traffic/transport office management

Data analysis

Team management

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) – National

Full driving licence

Tools

Telematics/tracking systems

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

About the Role

Are you a hands‑on, proactive transport professional ready to lead a busy transport operation?

We’re looking for a Transport Manager to oversee our Bristol depot, delivering a safe, efficient, and compliant transport service that consistently meets company SLAs.

This role is perfect for someone with strong leadership skills, a sharp eye for operational performance, and a passion for driving continuous improvement. You’ll manage people, vehicles, budgets, and compliance while ensuring our customers receive the highest quality service.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Process Management Plan daily resources across the network in line with volume forecasts, ensuring all deliveries and collections are completed on time and in line with procedures.
• Support van fleet management in collaboration with central planning and maintain vehicles in compliance with company and O Licence requirements.
• Analyse data and volume forecasts to optimise resources and performance, collate and interpret performance data, and provide insights to inform improvements.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, clients, and service providers.
• 2. Team Leadership & Management Recruit and onboard drivers and transport support staff; ensure temporary staff undergo pre‑employment checks and training.
• Manage attendance, conduct, and performance of staff, including setting objectives, reviewing performance, and addressing issues in line with company policies. Work closely with HR on all people‑related matters.
• Communicate effectively with the team through daily / weekly meetings and visual performance updates to promote engagement, motivation, and professional development within the team.
• 3. Cost Management : Manage depot profit and loss, monitor spend against forecasts, and implement cost‑saving initiatives.
• 4. Legal & Regulatory Compliance Promote a culture of safety, quality, and compliance across the team; report, investigate, and follow up on accidents and incidents in collaboration with Health & Safety and Security teams.
• Maintain compliance with Mail Integrity Code, Dangerous Goods regulations, Data Protection, and other legal requirements, and ensure driving staff comply with driving hours, working time directives, and all relevant road regulations.
• Deploy and monitor security policies in transport, liaising with the Head of Security where required.
• 5. Change Management : Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the transport team, communicating and managing change effectively by providing solutions and collaborating with other departments.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 3 years’ experience managing a busy traffic / transport office, including experience with telematics / tracking systems
• Experience interpreting complex financial and performance data to identify opportunities and recommend improvements.
• Experience managing teams to achieve daily and weekly operational targets with excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Highly organised; able to prioritise workloads and manage conflicting deadlines.
• Proficient in MS Office, including Excel and PowerPoint for data analysis and presentations.

Qualifications

• Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) – National or equivalent.
• Full driving licence (HGV licence advantageous).

Availability Requirements

In the Transport Manager role, you’ll work 40 hours per week, with flexibility required to support a 24‑hour operation and assist at other locations when needed.

About Company

We are the UK’s leading delivery management company providing efficient, high‑quality and competitively priced services across Business Mail, Parcels, Fulfilment and Door‑drop Media both in the UK and internationally. Distributing more than 4 billion items annually, we are market leaders in Downstream Access Mail (DSA) services handling over 50% of bulk business mail in the UK.

We are in the top 100 privately owned companies with 23 locations across the UK. Our success is down to our people and the values we all follow to deliver excellence to our customers.

We think as part of a team, act with a can‑do attitude and do the right thing. Following these simple values has resulted in our people delivering and exceeding both our business and personal development goals.

We are a ‘family’ of uniquely different people with strengths in the areas we work in and always have the opportunity to be curious to enhance ourselves.

We are a disability confident employer and embrace Well Being, EDI and ESG to make ourselves and our environment the best it can be.

Benefits

• Annual leave enhanced with long service.
• Company Pension.
• Long service rewards : both financial and leave‑based.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Critical Illness cover.
• Access to our prestige benefits and rewards portal.
• Career development opportunities.
• Access to a well‑established Employee Assistance Programme provider.
• And other excellent benefits you'd expect from a market leader.