Transport Manager

Role Overview

The Transport Manager is accountable for the full lifecycle of cargo movement — from planning and truck allocation through customs clearance, delivery, and performance review. On a typical day, this means building transport schedules, juggling transporter capacity against customer deadlines, troubleshooting delays, verifying transit paperwork, and reviewing cost and service KPIs. The role matters because it directly determines whether goods reach customers on time and at a competitive cost, while keeping the company compliant with regional customs and transit rules.

Key Responsibilities

• Own daily transport execution: build schedules, assign trucks and routes, and adjust plans in real time when delays, breakdowns, or capacity shortfalls threaten delivery commitments.
• Drive fleet and route optimisation: improve truck utilisation, backhaul opportunities, and transporter capacity planning to cut cost per trip without sacrificing service levels.
• Manage transporter partnerships: negotiate buying rates, monitor performance against SLAs and contract terms, resolve service failures, and support onboarding and qualification of new providers.
• Keep customs and transit compliance tight: ensure T1s, Exit Notes, T812 documentation, and regional transit regulations are handled accurately and on time; track regulatory changes and update internal processes accordingly.
• Coordinate cross-functional flow: work closely with Commercial, Customer Service, Customs, and Warehouse teams so that shipments move without administrative or operational bottlenecks.
• Handle customer communication and escalations: provide proactive shipment status updates, resolve transport exceptions quickly, and protect delivery performance against customer expectations.
• Report and control transport costs: prepare daily, weekly, and monthly performance reports, analyse transporter buying rates and KPIs, and recommend actions that improve efficiency and profitability.
• Lead and develop the transport team: coach staff, run performance reviews, align individual objectives with departmental targets, and champion continuous improvement in productivity, compliance, and service.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business Administration, or a comparable discipline.
• 5–7 years of hands-on experience in transport or logistics operations, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management capacity.
• Background in logistics, transport, freight forwarding, or supply chain management.
• Strong working knowledge of clearing and forwarding, customs procedures, and regional transit operations.
• Practical familiarity with KRA, KPA, URA, and regional customs systems.
• Experience with ERP platforms and transport management systems is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to negotiate with transporters, analyse cost drivers, and lead a team toward measurable service and financial targets.

What We Offer / Why Join

• Medical cover
• Pension contributions
• Fuel allowance

You will step into a leadership position with direct ownership of transport planning, transporter performance, and cost outcomes.