Transport Manager – Clearing & Forwarding & Regional Transit

Role Overview

We are looking for a commercially aware Transport Manager to take ownership of all road and transit movements within a busy clearing and forwarding environment. Your focus will be on keeping freight moving on schedule, coordinating the entire cargo journey from customs clearance to final destination, and ensuring every route is both compliant and cost-effective. This role matters because delays and inefficiencies in transport directly affect client trust, regulatory standing, and the profitability of every shipment we handle across regional corridors.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the full daily transport cycle: planning load schedules, issuing dispatch instructions, and tracking deliveries until proof of arrival is captured.
• Decide how best to allocate the available fleet and third-party transport assets, balancing route distances, load weights, delivery windows, and fuel consumption.
• Negotiate rates and service terms with external transporters, then review their performance against agreed SLAs, addressing underperformance and building reliable backup capacity.
• Ensure that all transit-related customs paperwork — including T1 documents, exit notes, and border crossing declarations — is accurate, complete, and submitted within regulatory deadlines.
• Act as the operational bridge between Customs officials, warehouse teams, customer service staff, and commercial colleagues so that cargo moves seamlessly through every stage without unnecessary stopovers or penalty charges.
• Track transport expenditure, monitor key performance indicators such as on-time delivery and cost per consignment, and identify opportunities to reduce spend without compromising compliance.
• Build a motivated transport team through structured coaching, clear role expectations, and regular feedback sessions aimed at raising operational quality.
• Respond swiftly to disruptions such as driver shortages, border delays, or vehicle breakdowns, implementing contingency plans to protect delivery commitments.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transport Management, Business, or a closely related discipline.
• At least five to seven years of experience in transport or logistics operations, with no fewer than three of those years spent in a supervisory or managerial position.
• Hands-on practical background in clearing and forwarding — not just high-level knowledge, but real involvement in cargo movement, customs engagement, and end-to-end shipment coordination.
• Demonstrable knowledge of customs protocols, regional transit arrangements, and the regulatory requirements that govern cargo crossing multiple borders.
• Working familiarity with ERP systems or Transport Management Systems, with the ability to extract data and generate operational reports.
• Proven skills in vendor negotiation, route cost analysis, and transporter performance management.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure and communicate clearly across departments, external partners, and customs authorities.
• A problem-solving mindset that can balance speed, cost, and compliance while keeping the bigger commercial picture in view.

What We Offer / Why Join

This position comes with a benefits package that includes medical cover, a pension scheme, and a fuel allowance. You will also take on a role that offers genuine decision-making authority over transporter relationships, route strategy, and team development within a fast-moving regional logistics operation.