How many hours should a Transport Manager work?

An interview with a DVSA Officer

Zed Aziz

Hi, I'm Zed, a transport consultant from the FTC. I'm here today to talk to you about the number of hours that an external transport manager needs to work per week depending on the number of vehicles.

Hi Zed. It's good to meet you. I'm John W, a senior DVSA officer. I'm responsible for ensuring that operators and transport managers are meeting the required standards. I have over 20 years’ experience within the industry and have supported thousands of operators and Transport Managers in ensuring their operations are compliant and hence safe.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. So, can you tell me a bit about the statutory guidance that sets out the number of hours that an external transport manager should work?

Sure. The statutory guidance is issued by the Senior Traffic Commissioner, and it provides a starting point for determining the number of hours that an external transport manager should work. The guidance takes into account the number of vehicles that the transport manager is responsible for, as well as the complexity of the operation.

So, what are the recommended number of hours for different fleet sizes?

The guidance suggests that the following number of hours should be worked per week for each range of vehicles:

2 or fewer vehicles: 2-4 hours

3-5 vehicles: 4-8 hours

6-10 vehicles: 8-12 hours

11-15 vehicles: 12-20 hours

16-29 vehicles: 20-30 hours

30-50 vehicles: 30-full time

Above 50 vehicles: Full time and additional assistance required

That's helpful. Can you give me some examples of where operators and transport managers have not been working to the required standard?

Sure. We've seen cases where operators have appointed external transport managers who do not have the necessary skills or experience. We've also seen cases where transport managers have not been working the required number of hours. In some cases, this has led to operators and transport managers being prosecuted by the DVSA Traffic Commissioners, in many cases external TM are stripped off their right to be a TM and Operators have sanctions placed on their licence.

That's concerning. What can operators and transport managers do to ensure that they are meeting the required standards?

There are a number of things that operators and transport managers can do. First, they should ensure that they have appointed an external transport manager who has the necessary skills and experience. Second, they should ensure that the transport manager is working the required number of hours. Third, they should keep records of the transport manager's work and make these records available to the DVSA if requested.

Operator appoints external transport manager who does not have the necessary skills or experience. For example, an operator may appoint an external transport manager who does not have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for transport managers. This is a legal requirement, and operators who fail to comply can be prosecuted by the DVSA.

Transport manager does not work the required number of hours. For example, a transport manager may only work a few hours per week, even though they are responsible for a large fleet of vehicles. This can lead to safety risks, as the transport manager may not have enough time to effectively manage the operation.

Operator and transport manager do not keep records of the transport manager's work. For example, an operator may not keep records of the transport manager's visits to the operator's premises. This can make it difficult for the DVSA to investigate any complaints or incidents.

These are just a few examples of where operators and transport managers have not been working to the required standard. It is important for operators and transport managers to be aware of the statutory guidance and to take steps to ensure that they are meeting the required standards.

The responsibility ultimately lies with the O' Licence Holder, my advice would be to the following as a minimum:

• Do your research. Before you appoint an external transport manager, make sure that they have the necessary skills and experience. You can find out more about the requirements for transport managers on the DVSA website.

• Set clear expectations. Once you have appointed an external transport manager, make sure that you set clear expectations about the number of hours they will be working and the tasks they will be responsible for.

• Keep records. Make sure that you keep records of the transport manager's work, including their visits to your premises and any advice or guidance they have given you.

• Be proactive. If you have any concerns about the transport manager's performance, do not hesitate to raise them with the transport manager directly. If you are still not satisfied, you can contact the DVSA.

Thanks for your time, John. This has been really helpful.

You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.