Transport and Logistics

The transport and logistics sector involves all careers relating to the use of vehicles including cars, buses, trains and aircraft. It also includes careers where you will help with moving people or items by road, rail, air and sea.

Roles include those related to driving or working of vehicles such as mechanic, airline pilot or train driver. This sector also includes roles relating to delivery and stock, such as delivery driver, warehouse manager and order picker.

Within this sector, you will find a range of career opportunities from entry level, right up to senior management. View job profiles to view information on entry routes, salary and progression opportunities here.

Bus or Coach Driver

As a bus driver, you could take fares, check tickets, give timetable and help passengers.

As a coach driver, you could greet passengers and check travel documents, load and unload luggage, keep the coach clean, record driving hours and deal with border control authorities on trips abroad.

The avarage starting salary is £25,000 to an experienced driver earning £37,000 a year. Typical hours are 40 to 48 hours a week including evenings, weekends, bank holidays and staying away from home.

You can get into this job through an apparenticeship and applying directly. 

Apprenticeship - You can also apply to do a Passenger Transport Delivery Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, with a bus or coach company. You will need to hold at least a Category B (car driving license) to start training. The apprenticeship typically takes 12 months to complete and combines workplace training with off-the-job study.

Direct Application - You can apply to a bus or coach companies and train on the job. Most companies will expect you to have at least 6 months' car driving experience. You would be put through Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver training that normally lasts between 1 and 6 weeks. Your employer will also give you training for the Certificate of Professional Competence or Driver CPC.

You will usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

Forklift Driver

As a forklift driver, you would:

• carry out safety checks on equipment at the start of a shift

• load and unload goods from lorries, ships or aircrafts

• use radio equipment to keep in touch with other staff on site

• move and stack goods in storage bays

• pick and pack orders

The average starting salary is £23,000 to an experienced driver earning £32,000 a year. Typical hours are 40 to 48 hours a week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. 

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship, a college course and applying directly.

Train Driver

As a train driver, you'll:

• check controls and equipment before and after journeys

• drive trains between station or freight depots, following a schedule

• follow track signalling, speed and safety instructions along routes

• speak with control centres and signal operators during journeys

The average starting salary is £28,000 to an experience driver earning £65,000 a year. Typical hours are 35 to 40 hours a week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. 

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship, working towards this role and applying directly. 

Apprenticeship - You can apply to a train operating company for a place on a Train Driver Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. This apprenticeship takes between 1 and 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with classroom learning with a training provider. 

You'll usualy need:

• GCSEs grades 9 to 4, or equivalent, in English and maths.

Warehouse Manager

As a warehouse manager you could work in a warehouse or in an office and could:

• co-ordinate the loading and unloading of goods

• monitor stock levels and storage space

• plan deliveries, dispatch orders and raise invoices

• oversee recruitment and training

The average starting salary is £25,000 to an experienced manager earning £42,000 a year. Typical hours are 40 to 42 hours a week including evenings, weekends and bank holidays. 

You can get into this job through a university course, a college course, an apprenticeship, working towards this role and applying directly.