CPC in Road Transport Operations Management

Course Outline

This CPC is designed for managers and those wanting to set up their own transport business 

Key areas covered are: 

Introduction to haulage and passenger transport operations  

Setting up a road transport business 

• Covers marketing, developing a business plan, decision-making factors, financial considerations, business ownership, obligations upon transport operators and consequences of bankruptcy. 

Access to the road haulage market 

• What the legal requirements are in setting up a business and getting access to the road haulage market. 
• Covers professional competence, good repute and financial standing so candidates are aware of what is required by the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism when applying for a Road Transport Operators Licence. 
• Also covers community authorisations and bi-lateral permits in order to meet the legal obligation for carrying out operations in the EU and further afield.  

Transport operations management - haulage 

• Covers main issues in managing a road haulage business - distribution management, logistics, JIT, selecting the vehicles, fleet management, insurances, documentation for the driver, vehicles and loads, the role of information technology in transport management, organisation of work, operating efficiency and fuel economy. 

Financial management 

• Provides students with the main financial information required when setting up and running a business. 
• Covers basic accounting information on keeping accounts, balance sheets, financial analysis, depreciation, costings, pricing, cost allocation, budgeting and managing cash flow. 
• Other areas covered include, road user charges, cheques, methods of payment, renting, and factoring. There is also a section covering invoicing and incoterms (commercial terms for common contractual sales practices, often used to communicate the tasks, costs, and risks associated with the transportation and delivery of goods), fares and pricing. 

Technical standards - haulage 

• Deals with the EU Legislation on the common rules or standards in operating vehicles in Europe. 
• Covers EU type approval, vehicle weights, dimensions and design, abnormal loads, special permits and vehicle testing, technical standards, vehicle selection, loading and unloading, cargo-handling and loading devices, noise and air pollution, drawing up periodic maintenance plans, compliance with the safety requirements, vehicle maintenance, and the carriage of dangerous goods by road. 

Civil, commercial and social legislation 

• Focuses on the social issues concerned with road transport. 
• Covers employers' social security obligations, work contracts, obligations of the parties, working conditions and working hours, paid leave, remuneration, breach of contract, Working Time Directive, main types of contract used in road transport, conditions of carriage, contract, agency and carriers liability in tort, consumer rights, employment health and safety legislation, driver qualifications, compliance with traffic regulations, compensation for loss or damage to goods, claims for injury to passengers and damage and loss of baggage. 

Conventions and documentation 

• Examines the various conventions and documents in use in transport in passenger operations in Ireland and abroad. 
• Covers CVR Convention, Carnet de Passage en Douane and other Customs documentation, transit agreements and road user charges. 

Route planning and road safety 

• Examines the importance of safety in transport and covers the legal requirement under the tachograph regulations for driving hours and rest periods. 
• Also covers the requirements for route planning especially when undertaking an international journey, including country profiles, access to ports and the main routes used from Ireland to Europe.