Fractional Leadership for UK Logistics & Supply Chain
Senior operations, finance and technology directors for hauliers, 3PLs and distributors, available part time and usually within one week.
Leadership Services provides fractional and interim directors for UK logistics and supply chain businesses, including third-party logistics providers, freight forwarders, hauliers and fleet operators, warehousing and distribution companies. Directors on our bench with logistics experience sit within a wider bench of 500+ directors across finance, operations and technology. Engagements start from £1,795 per month, typically within one week, with no long-term tie-in.
Challenges We See in Logistics
- ✖ Thin operating margins where a few points of fleet utilisation, empty running or warehouse labour productivity decide whether a contract makes money
- ✖ Driver and warehouse operative shortages, rising agency spend and an ageing workforce, with too few young recruits coming through
- ✖ Fuel, insurance and vehicle costs that move faster than customer rates, because contracts lack effective indexation or a price escalation clause
- ✖ Open-book and cost-plus contracts where the business cannot prove its true cost to serve by customer, site or lane
- ✖ WMS, TMS and telematics systems that do not talk to each other or to the finance system, so operational data never reaches the board in a usable form
- ✖ Operator licence, driver hours and maintenance compliance carried by a transport manager without senior support or board-level visibility
How Our Bench Helps Logistics Businesses
Operations usually comes first. A fractional COO with logistics experience looks hard at fleet utilisation, route planning, backhaul and empty running, warehouse slotting and pick rates, and agency labour usage. They set the KPIs that matter for each contract, lead the weekly operational review, and support the transport manager on operator licence and compliance obligations. Our article on the part-time COO in UK logistics covers the role in more detail.
A fractional CFO builds a cost-to-serve model by customer, site and lane, so pricing reflects reality and loss-making work is visible. They put fuel and labour indexation into renewals using a price escalation clause, manage working capital where customers pay on 60 or 90 days but drivers and fuel are paid weekly, and handle asset finance for fleet replacement, including the economics of moving to electric or alternative-fuel vehicles.
Technology ties it together. A fractional IT director or CIO selects and integrates WMS, TMS, telematics and customer portals so that track-and-trace, proof of delivery and billing all draw on the same data, and a fractional CISO protects the operation against the ransomware attacks that can stop a distribution centre for days.
Most Relevant Roles for Logistics
Fractional COO
Fleet utilisation, warehouse productivity, agency labour control and contract KPIs across sites.
Learn more →Fractional CFO
Cost to serve by customer and lane, fuel and labour indexation, fleet finance and cash flow.
Learn more →Fractional IT Director
Integrating WMS, TMS, telematics and finance systems into one reliable operational picture.
Learn more →Fractional Commercial Director
Tendering, contract renewals and pricing discipline so new business is profitable business.
Learn more →Fractional HR Director
Driver and operative recruitment, retention, apprenticeships and reducing reliance on agency staff.
Learn more →What the Data Says
The workforce is shrinking. Figures from Logistics UK’s Employment and Skills Report 2026, reported by Trans.INFO, show the number of UK HGV drivers fell by 30,000 in a year to 283,000, and only around 4% are aged under 25. Department for Transport survey data, also reported by Trans.INFO, found that 28% of hauliers had driver vacancies in the three months to June 2026 and a quarter had raised driver pay in that quarter. Workforce planning and pay strategy now belong on the board agenda.
Efficiency still has room to improve. The same DfT road freight statistics show empty running of 5.3 billion kilometres in the year to June 2026, equal to 29% of all distance travelled. Every point of empty running removed is fuel, wages and vehicle wear saved, which is why utilisation is a COO and CFO priority together.
Warehouse space is tightening. Research from Colliers reported by Logistics Manager shows take-up of units over 100,000 sq ft reached 21.8 million sq ft in the first nine months of 2026, while speculative completions are forecast at 7.3 million sq ft for the year, 45% below the five-year average. Logistics businesses planning growth need property, fleet and capital decisions made well ahead of contract start dates.
Logistics & Supply Chain Directors on Our Bench
7 directors on our bench have senior experience in logistics & supply chain.
Alan
Hugo
Lee
Chris
Doug
Keith
Richard
Logistics & Supply Chain Case Studies
Real engagements delivered by directors from our bench.
Global IT Transformation
In the dynamic field of logistics, DHL Supply Chain’s Global Service Logistics (GSL) sought to stand out even further by implementing a p…
Read case study →
Global Supply Chain Leadership
Our part-time Director plays a key role in enhancing global supply chain leadership for this multi-national shipping company, focusing on…
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Operating Model Implementation on a Global Scale
Our IT director was brought in to implement a brand new operating model for the biggest name in logistics services worldwide. Our directo…
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ERP Software: Transitioning to Efficiency
Our IT Director helped this logistics business improve efficiency by transitioning them to using an ERP software solution, as aiding in t…
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Operational Enhancement for Supply Chain Mgmt
Our part-time chief operating officer was instrumental in implementing strategic operational enhancement in a fleet supply chain manageme…
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IT Infrastructure Consolidation for Vehicle Tracking Company
Our CIO helped this Vehicle Tracking Company with its IT Infrastructure Consolidation project brought on by a recent pan-European merger.
Read case study →Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fractional director do for a logistics business?
A fractional director takes on a senior role, typically COO, CFO or IT director, for a fixed number of days each month. In logistics they focus on what moves margin: fleet and warehouse productivity, cost to serve by contract, pricing and indexation, systems integration and workforce planning. They work inside your business with your managers, and report to you and your board.
How much does a fractional logistics director cost?
Fractional directors start from £1,795 per month. The cost depends on the days you need, which often increases around a major contract launch, tender or system implementation and falls once it is bedded in. There are no recruitment fees and no long-term tie-in. Our <a href="/pricing/" rel="noopener">pricing page</a> gives typical day patterns.
Can a fractional director help with operator licence and compliance issues?
Yes. The transport manager retains their legal role on the operator licence, but a fractional COO can give them senior support: reviewing maintenance, driver hours and defect reporting systems, preparing for DVSA scrutiny or a public inquiry, and making sure compliance performance is reported to the board. That reduces the risk that compliance depends on one person.
Do you help logistics businesses implement a new WMS or TMS?
Yes. A fractional IT director or CIO can define requirements, run vendor selection, own the implementation plan and protect operations during cutover, which is when most warehouse system projects go wrong. They stay independent of software vendors, so recommendations are based on your operation rather than a sales target.
How quickly can a fractional director start?
Most directors start within one week, and we respond to every enquiry on the same working day. That is useful when a contract is at risk, a key manager has left or a customer has given notice and you need senior hands quickly.
Ready to talk about your logistics business?
Tell us about your fleet, sites and contracts, and we will introduce directors from our bench who have run logistics operations, finance or technology themselves. Most start within one week, from £1,795 per month.
Ready to bring experienced leadership to your business?
Tell us what you're working on and we'll match you with the right director — usually the same working day.