FTA Ireland is set to host a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC) training course, starting on Wednesday, 30th September, offering those working in the road transport sector an opportunity to gain one of the industry’s key professional qualifications.
The course will be delivered online via Zoom, making it accessible to HGV drivers, transport supervisors, traffic-office personnel, fleet managers and others looking to progress their careers within the road haulage industry.
The Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC) is the professional qualification required by someone wishing to act as the nominated Transport Manager for a licensed road haulage or passenger transport operator.
It should not be confused with the Driver CPC, which applies to professional HGV and bus drivers.
For a licensed road haulage operation, the professional competence requirement must be satisfied through an appropriately qualified Transport Manager. The qualification is designed to demonstrate that the holder has the knowledge required to effectively and continuously manage a compliant transport operation.
Wide-ranging course
The Transport Manager CPC covers a broad range of subjects reflecting the increasingly demanding compliance responsibilities facing today’s transport managers.
Topics include transport and commercial law, operator licensing, drivers’ hours and tachographs, working-time regulations, vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness, weights and dimensions, vehicle loading and safety, financial management, costing, taxation, employment matters and international transport operations.
The qualification covers both national and international road transport operations, making it particularly relevant to Irish haulage companies operating throughout Ireland, the UK and continental Europe.
Examination
In Ireland, the Transport Manager CPC examination is administered by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ireland on behalf of the Department of Transport.
Candidates are required to undertake training with an approved TM CPC training provider. The programme requires a minimum of 100 hours of tuition, while candidates are also advised to undertake significant private study in preparation for the examination.
The examination consists of two papers: a two-hour paper containing 40 multiple-choice questions and a comprehensive case study lasting two hours and 30 minutes.
The examination format was updated from June 2026, with candidates permitted to bring the 2026 TM CPC Course Manual into the examination.
A key role in every transport operation
The Transport Manager occupies a critical position within a professional road haulage business.
Responsibilities can include overseeing vehicle maintenance and inspections, drivers’ hours and tachograph compliance, driver records, operator licensing requirements, vehicle roadworthiness and the procedures required to keep the operation compliant.
Importantly, holding a Transport Manager CPC does not in itself provide a Road Haulage Operator Licence. Rather, the qualification allows the holder to satisfy the professional competence requirement as a Transport Manager, while the operator must separately meet the requirements necessary to obtain and retain an Operator Licence.
Career progression
For people already working within road transport, the qualification can also provide an important route for career development.
It is particularly relevant to HGV drivers looking to move into transport management, traffic planners, fleet supervisors, owner-drivers considering establishing their own haulage business and existing transport managers seeking the recognised professional qualification.
With compliance, roadworthiness, drivers’ hours and fleet management becoming increasingly important across the road transport sector, qualified and knowledgeable Transport Managers continue to play an essential role in professionally run haulage businesses.
“FTA Ireland’s forthcoming online course therefore offers those working within the industry an opportunity to develop their knowledge and work towards a recognised professional transport management qualification without having to attend classroom-based training,” FTA Ireland CEO, Niall Cotton said.
The course gets underway on Wednesday, 30th September and will be delivered online via Zoom.
For further information or to register, contact Marina Bonar at FTA Ireland on 01 844 7516, or email mbonar@ftai.ie or info@ftai.ie.
