Transport Team Leader

Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd; Bristol; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supermarket chain in Bristol is looking for a Transport Assistant to support the smooth operation of the Transport Office. This role requires strong leadership abilities, excellent computer literacy, and a good understanding of transport regulations. You will oversee the driving team, manage operational communication, and maintain necessary documentation. This position involves 12-hour shifts with a flexible rota. Benefits include a 10% discount card after 12 weeks and special offers on various services.

Benefits

Discount card after 12 weeks

Special offers on gym memberships and retail vouchers

Qualifications

• Strong leadership abilities, able to offer direction and support to others.
• Computer literate, competent user of all Microsoft Office applications.
• Working knowledge of transport and driver hours regulations.
• Geographical knowledge of the country and motorway network.
• Familiarity with transport management systems.
• Competence in transport operations legislation.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize workload.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage the driving team and transport team.
• Liaise with customers and suppliers regarding collection and delivery.
• Communicate operational issues with drivers and other sites.
• Offer leadership to traffic assistants, warehouse operatives, and supervisors.
• Generate and issue driver journey sheets.
• Produce transport auditing reports.

Skills

Leadership abilities

Computer literacy

Knowledge of transport regulations

Geographical knowledge of motorway network

Familiarity with transport management systems

Competence in transport operations legislation

Proactive towards change

Multitasking

Job description

Salary: £35,000
Location: Patchway Depot, Bristol, BS34 5TA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Logistics
Closing date: 28 December 2025
Requisition ID: 400043323

We believe in providing meaningful work and achieving a real work/life balance. Here, you'll find both. Our Supply Chain team is the engine room for getting thousands of products from farms and factories to our millions of customers every day. We leverage insight and data to anticipate customer needs, ensuring they get what they want, when they need it. You'll be part of a team that is data-driven and judgement-focused, always the first to identify and address any issues or ambiguities. A culture of collaboration, customer obsession, and continuous improvement drives us to deliver market-leading product availability and operational excellence, and fuels our innovation. Our Supply Chain team calls for people who champion change, are customer-obsessed, data-driven, and excel at collaborating and communicating effectively - because those people can go a very long way.

***Immediate start based initially at Wales 1 Business Park, Magor, NP26 3DG until early spring 2026 when we move to our brand new purpose built depot in Access 18, Avonmouth, BS11 8HT***

You don’t get to be one of the nation’s largest and most loved supermarkets without a brilliant team — and our Transport colleagues are central to keeping our operations running smoothly, ensuring our customers can buy the goods they need in store.

It’s about helping your community eat, shop, and live better, all while being part of a family that’s 187,000 people strong. After all, making the best-quality products available in-store for our customers is what we’re about. Just ask the millions of people up and down the country who choose to shop with us every week.

As a Transport Assistant, you will assist in the smooth operation of the Transport Office, compiling and maintaining documentation and managing information. You’ll ensure our drivers depart and arrive on time, processing vital information, issuing journey details, liaising with our suppliers / stores and RDCs.

Shift Type and Hours:Working 12 hours shifts and averaging of 42 hours per week on a flexible rota which will incorporate day shifts (07:00 to 19:00) and nights shifts (19:00 to 07:00) with the flexibility to fit the needs of our operations where required.Holidays will be on a pro-rata basis.

More about you

We would like to hear from you if you...

• Possess strong leadership abilities, able to offer direction and support to others.
• Are Computer literate, competent user of all Microsoft Office applications.
• Have working knowledge of transport / driver hours and regulations.
• Have working geographical knowledge of the country and the motorway network.
• Are familiar with transport management systems.
• Are competent in transport operations legislation.
• Are pro-active towards change, ability to multitask and prioritize workload.
• Work co-operatively and willingly with others to achieve common objectives.
• Have a sense of urgency and work diligently to achieve timelines.

More about the Role

The key part of the role is to Monitor and manage the driving team and transport team.

• Liaising with customer and suppliers on all issues relating to the collection and delivery of product
• Communication with drivers to ensure depot is aware of issues as they arise
• Communicating operational issues with other Sainsburys & Argos sites and RDC’s
• Communicating operational changes with the warehouse and yard supervisor
• Communicating operational needs with the transport team
• Offering leadership and direction to the traffic assistants, warehouse operatives and yard supervisor
• Managing the shift alongside the Shift Manager
• Generate driver journey sheets from in-house computer systems and issue to drivers
• Produce reports, such as missing volume, debrief status and unconfirmed orders
• Collate weekly information for transport auditing purposes
• Make sure agency drivers are legal to work using the declaration and digi card scanning system.
• Season ticket loan after you’ve completed 12 weeks of service and passed your probation
• Discount card after 12 weeks that gives you 10% off your Sainsbury’s, Argos and Habitat shopping
• Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers and more