Manage a goods vehicle fleet

This standard is about managing a goods vehicle fleet. It includes managing the vehicles and their drivers, recording feedback, communicating it to the relevant people and advising them of outcomes in connection with fleet management. It involves evaluating performance, effectiveness and efficiency and being able to identify trends.

This standard is relevant to all those who are responsible for managing a goods vehicle fleet as part of their job role.

1    maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2    identify hazards and assess risks as you carry out the activity and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where required
3    confirm that the relevant training has been received to carry out the work, recognise the limits of your competence and seek access to further training where required
4    manage the allocation of the goods vehicle fleet resources, in accordance with your organisation’s policies and procedures
5    assist colleagues to allocate, manage and monitor goods vehicle fleet resources to meet your organisation’s schedules for the transportation of goods
6    use organisational communication and information systems to manage goods vehicle fleet resources
7    use organisational communication systems to provide information to vehicle fleet drivers during the transportation of goods
8    manage delivery schedules in response to information obtained by monitoring a vehicle fleet or received from vehicle fleet drivers 
9    collate feedback and information gathered from customers
10    resolve operational issues based on feedback from customers
11    advise customers and the relevant personnel of changes in the resources allocated for the delivery schedules or goods being delivered
12    inform customers and the relevant personnel of issues that cannot be resolved, where necessary
13    manage records and adapt any consignment documents or proof of delivery notes to reflect changes
14    evaluate and review the performance of the vehicle fleet against the organisation’s operational plan, monitoring vehicle running and depreciation costs
15    evaluate and review the ability of the fleet to meet delivery schedules
16    identify patterns or trends in the performance of the vehicle fleet to inform future plans, including the selection of transport modes
17    propose amendments to operational and organisational procedures and communicate them to the relevant personnel
18    comply with the policies and procedures of the organisation and the relevant legal and organisational requirements relating to managing a goods vehicle fleet
19    maintain the required records in line with relevant legal and organisational requirements

1.    your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2.    how to identify hazards and assess risks as you carry out the activity and the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE)
3.    the goods vehicle fleet resources in your organisation and your organisational policies and procedures for their allocation
4.    the types of goods vehicles and equipment used for carrying different types of loads
5.    the transport modes used by your organisation to fulfil customer requirements
6.    the communications and monitoring equipment used in your organisation to help manage a goods vehicle fleet
7.    the route, destination, delivery and collection schedules for goods vehicle fleet management in your organisation
8.    the relevant schedules for the transportation of goods by your organisation
9.    the different types of recording and documentation procedures used by your organisation to help manage a goods vehicle fleet
10.    the methods of communication used by your organisation to communicate information on the goods vehicle fleet to colleagues, customers and other relevant stakeholders
11.    the sources of information used to provide feedback to the organisation and customers
12.    the types of operational and organisational review systems and procedures for your organisation
13.    how to monitor vehicle running and depreciation costs
14.    the organisation’s policies and procedures and the relevant legal and organisational requirements relating to managing a goods vehicle fleet 
15.    the information and recording systems used by the organisation and the legal and organisational requirements for maintaining records, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security

Colleagues: permanent, temporary, agency staff, external

Customer(s): internal, external

Goods vehicle fleet resources: drivers, vehicles, trailers, ancillary equipment, fuel

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

Legal and organisational requirements could include:

• Driving, vehicle and transport regulations
• Machinery and equipment regulations
• Workplace safety regulations
• Working time regulations
• Codes of practice
• Organisational requirements
• Environmental, ethical and social considerations

Load could include: containers; sealed loads or trailers; palletised goods; cages; individual boxes/packages; casks/kegs; bulk materials; liquids, powders or grains; food; temperature-controlled goods; livestock; hazardous goods; vehicles, plant or machinery; timber; customer’s removal goods; goods for return/repair etc.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include: high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear

Schedules: the agreements with customers that relate to the delivery of a quantity of goods to an agreed destination at a specified time

Transport modes: road, rail, sea and waterways, air