Outsourced Transport Management
Keep your vehicles and drivers, but hand over the day to day management of your transport operation under an ongoing contract. CTS helps businesses compare checked operators that can take on planning, traffic office functions and compliance while you retain ownership of the fleet.
Keep the fleet, outsource the transport management function
A growing distributor with its own vehicles, a manufacturer whose transport manager has left, or an operator without enough CPC qualified cover can reach the same point. The fleet is still running, but the traffic office, routing, scheduling and O-licence compliance are no longer manageable in house. That is where outsourced transport management fits. Unlike fleet outsourcing, you keep your own vehicles and drivers while an appointed specialist manages the operation under an ongoing contract.
Businesses usually outsource transport management when growth has overtaken internal planning, management cover is uncertain or compliance has become too much for a small team. It suits manufacturers, wholesalers, builders' merchants, food distributors and other own-account fleets that need day to day transport control without recruiting a permanent management team. If you are also considering wider transport outsourcing options, this approach lets you keep your assets while outsourcing the management.
Costs depend on the requirement. Drop density, route mileage, vehicle and crew type, delivery windows, waiting time, daily volumes, consistency of work, fuel exposure, returns, failed deliveries, dedicated or shared operation, reporting requirements and mobilisation all affect pricing. A clear specification, supported by a transport tender and RFP template, gives operators enough detail to price the work accurately and reduces the risk of misunderstandings later.
A managed transport service can cover route planning, scheduling, load allocation, traffic desk control, customer communication, KPI reporting, drivers' hours oversight, subcontract management where needed, and transport planning and compliance. Some contracts include a fully managed traffic office, while others provide an external transport manager to fulfil the named CPC compliance role. The two are not the same, so responsibilities should be clearly defined from the outset and aligned with the goods vehicle operator licensing guide.
CTS is independent and asset neutral. It owns no trucks or warehouses. Your brief is shared privately with a small shortlist of matched operators that have been checked before receiving work opportunities, including DVSA operator licence and O-licence status, financial standing, insurance and relevant accreditations. CTS checks and introduces operators. It does not rank, endorse or guarantee them. Final due diligence, contract terms and operational responsibility remain with the shipper and the appointed operator.
- Free
- Matching service
- UK-wide
- Operator network
- One brief
- Shared securely
- Checked
- Before introduction
Why appoint through CTS
The checks and structure that make proposals worth comparing.
Daily transport planning
Coordinate routing, scheduling and dispatch under an ongoing contract.
Compliance oversight
Agree responsibility for transport planning and compliance from the outset.
Performance reporting
Monitor agreed KPIs and operational performance throughout the contract.
Drivers' hours control
Support legal oversight and operational continuity.
Checked operators
Providers are checked before they receive a procurement brief.
Ongoing contracts
Built for long term transport management rather than one off bookings.
Operating models compared
Use this as the checklist for any proposal you receive.
| Attribute | What the operator provides | What to agree up front |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic office management | Daily routing, scheduling and dispatch | KPIs, reporting, escalation and service hours |
| Transport planning | Load planning, resource allocation and network control | Delivery windows, volumes and route priorities |
| Compliance | Drivers' hours oversight and O-licence support | Named responsibilities and audit process |
| Fleet integration | Works with your existing vehicles and drivers | Vehicle availability, maintenance and continuity |
| Performance management | Operational reviews and agreed service measures | Service credits, reporting frequency and governance |
In this section
The decisions that shape the appointment.
Keep operational control, reduce procurement risk
CTS helps you compare several checked operators instead of relying on a single provider. You make the final appointment and contract directly with the operator.
| Retain your assets. | Keep your own vehicles and drivers if that suits the operation. | |
|---|---|---|
| Compare properly. | Receive private proposals against one structured brief. | |
| Check before appointing. | Providers are screened before they are introduced. | |
Your brief goes only to matched operators. It is never posted publicly or sold on.
How it works
One brief. A private shortlist. No obligation at any point.
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Brief your requirement
Define routes, fleet, service levels, compliance needs and contract objectives.
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We match and check
CTS identifies suitable operators and completes key checks before sharing your brief.
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Compare proposals privately
Review operational plans, pricing, mobilisation and contract terms side by side.
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Appoint and mobilise
Complete due diligence, agree responsibilities and begin mobilisation.
Common questions
Straight answers on cost, contracts and how your brief is handled.
What affects the cost of outsourced transport management?
Pricing depends on the requirement rather than a standard tariff. Route structure, delivery profile, vehicle and crew requirements, reporting, compliance responsibilities, dedicated or shared resources and operational complexity all influence the proposal.
Is CTS independent of the operators?
Yes. CTS is asset neutral and owns no trucks or warehouses. It introduces matched, checked operators through a private procurement process but does not rank, endorse or guarantee providers. The contract is between the shipper and the appointed operator.
How is this different from hiring an external transport manager?
An external transport manager normally fills the named CPC compliance role for an O-licence. Outsourced transport management can include that role, but it also covers planning, scheduling, traffic office activities, reporting and day to day operational management.
What checks are completed before operators receive a brief?
CTS checks DVSA operator licence and O-licence status, financial standing, insurance and relevant accreditations before introducing an operator. The shipper should still carry out its own due diligence before appointing a provider and signing a contract.
When is outsourced transport management the right choice, not full fleet outsourcing?
Outsourced transport management suits a business that wants to keep its own vehicles and drivers but hand over the planning, traffic office and O-licence compliance, for example a food distributor short of qualified cover or a builders' merchant that has outgrown its own planning. Full fleet outsourcing goes further and places the vehicles and drivers with an operator as well. Hiring a single external transport manager only covers the compliance role, not the day to day operation. The right option depends on how much of the operation you want to run yourself.
Request quotes from vetted UK partners
Tell us what your business needs to move and compare proposals privately. Free to use, with no obligation to appoint.
- Vetted UK operators only
- Private, never a load board
- No cost, no obligation
Compare checked transport management providers
CTS is free to shippers, with no obligation to appoint. Your brief is shared only with matched, checked operators so you can compare proposals before choosing the provider that best fits your operation.
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