A traffic marshal is one of the most in-demand roles on UK construction sites right now. With 37 live vacancies on SiteJobs alone, sites across the country need ticketed marshals to direct vehicles, manage deliveries, and keep pedestrians safe. If you have a CPCS A73 or NPORS traffic marshal ticket plus a CSCS card, you can earn £15-25/hour - and work is available immediately.
What Does a Traffic Marshal Do?
A traffic marshal (also called a traffic banksman or vehicle marshaller) controls the movement of vehicles on and around a construction site. You are the eyes and ears for drivers who cannot see everything around their vehicle. Your job is to guide reversing lorries, position plant equipment, manage delivery traffic at the site entrance, and make sure no pedestrian ever walks into the path of a moving vehicle.
The role is safety-critical. HSE guidance at hse.gov.uk is clear: every construction site must organise vehicle and pedestrian routes so they can move safely, and traffic marshals are a key part of that system. The HSE reports that being struck by a moving vehicle is one of the most common causes of construction fatalities, which is why trained, ticketed marshals are mandatory on most sites.
Traffic Marshal Pay Rates UK 2026
Traffic marshal rates depend on your tickets, experience, and location:
- Traffic marshal (NPORS or CPCS, outside London): £15-18/hour
- Traffic marshal (NPORS or CPCS, London/South East): £17-22/hour
- Experienced traffic marshal with multiple tickets: £20-25/hour
- Long-term infrastructure projects: often pay premium rates with overtime
Most traffic marshal jobs are advertised as PAYE roles with weekly pay. Overtime after 39 hours is common on large sites, typically paid at 1.5x your hourly rate. Night work and weekend shifts attract higher rates - some London-based marshals on night shifts earn over £25/hour.
What Tickets Do You Need?
To work as a traffic marshal on a UK construction site, you need two things:
- CSCS card - either a green labourer card or a blue skilled worker card. You cannot access a construction site without one. Full details on card types and requirements are at cscs.uk.com.
- Traffic marshal ticket - either CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller, or an NPORS Traffic Banksman qualification with the CSCS logo. The CPCS A73 standard is published by NOCN Jobskills at cpcs.nocn.org.uk. NPORS operator registration details are at npors.com/operators.
Some sites accept either ticket, but larger contractors increasingly prefer the CPCS A73. If you already hold an NPORS Traffic Banksman ticket, check whether the site requires the CSCS logo variant - NPORS cards without the CSCS logo may not be accepted on CLC-compliant sites.
How to Get Your CPCS A73 Traffic Marshal Ticket
The CPCS A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller qualification is the industry standard. Here is how to get it:
- Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (around £22) - this must be current (within 2 years)
- Book a CPCS A73 training course through an approved CPCS training provider. The course typically lasts 1-2 days for experienced candidates or 3-5 days for novices
- Pass the CPCS A73 theory test and practical test
- Apply for your CPCS Red Trained Operator card (around £30) - valid for 2 years
- Within those 2 years, complete an NVQ Level 2 in Plant Operations to upgrade to the CPCS Blue Competent Operator card
Total cost to get started: around £400-700 depending on the training provider and whether you need novice or experienced training. CITB-registered employers can claim grant funding towards this cost. The CPCS A73 training standard document is available directly from cpcs.nocn.org.uk.
CPCS A73 vs NPORS Traffic Banksman - Which Is Better?
Both tickets qualify you to work as a traffic marshal, but there are differences:
- CPCS A73: Run by NOCN Jobskills through the CPCS scheme. More widely requested by major contractors. Red card lasts 2 years, then upgrade to Blue with NVQ. Details at cpcs.nocn.org.uk.
- NPORS Traffic Banksman: Run by NPORS. Often cheaper and faster to obtain. Valid for 5 years. Must have the CSCS logo to work on CLC-compliant sites. Details at npors.com.
If you are starting from scratch, check what your target employers ask for. Most large infrastructure projects (HS2, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects) specify CPCS A73. Smaller sites and regional contractors often accept NPORS. Either way, you need a valid CSCS card alongside your marshal ticket.
Is Traffic Marshalling a Good Entry Point Into Construction?
Yes. Traffic marshalling is one of the quickest trades to get into because the training is short and affordable compared to skilled trades. You can go from zero to fully ticketed in under a month. It is physically active but not as demanding as groundworking or labouring, and it teaches you site safety systems that transfer to every other construction role.
Many traffic marshals progress to become slinger signallers (CPCS A40), plant operators, or site supervisors. The communication and safety awareness skills you develop as a marshal are valued across the industry. Some marshals use the role as a stepping stone while studying for NVQs in site management or plant operations.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
Traffic marshalling is a safety-critical role. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, both employers and workers have legal duties. HSE guidance at hse.gov.uk covers the key requirements:
- Always wear full PPE: hard hat, hi-vis vest (Class 2 or 3), safety boots, gloves, and eye protection
- Use clear, standardised hand signals - never improvise signals
- Maintain a safe distance from moving vehicles at all times
- Never stand between a reversing vehicle and a fixed object
- Confirm the driver can see you before giving signals
- Use a radio as backup to hand signals where noise or distance is an issue
- Stop any vehicle movement if a pedestrian enters the danger zone
- Report any near misses or unsafe routing to the site manager immediately
HSE publication HSG150 (Health and Safety in Construction) provides comprehensive guidance on site safety including vehicle management. It is available free at hse.gov.uk.
Where Are the Most Traffic Marshal Jobs?
The highest concentrations of traffic marshal vacancies on SiteJobs are in:
- London and the South East - the busiest market, with rates of £18-25/hour
- Manchester and the North West - major residential and commercial developments driving demand
- Birmingham and the West Midlands - consistent infrastructure work
- Leeds and Yorkshire - growing demand from housing and road projects
- Edinburgh and Glasgow - infrastructure and commercial builds
Rural and remote projects (wind farms, energy projects, road improvements) also need marshals but may require travel or temporary accommodation. These roles often pay higher day rates to compensate.
How to Apply for Traffic Marshal Jobs
Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs. Browse all 37 traffic marshal vacancies, filter by location, and call the employer direct. No CV uploads, no registration walls, no agency middlemen. Every listing shows the rate, location, duration, and a verified phone number. You call, you start.
If you do not yet have your tickets, look for labouring roles that offer in-house traffic marshal training. Some contractors will fund your CPCS A73 or NPORS course if you commit to working for them afterwards. This is a common pathway into the trade.
Related Plant and Vehicle Roles
Many traffic marshals expand into related roles to increase their earning potential:
- Slinger signaller (CPCS A40): Guide crane lifts as well as vehicle movements - higher pay
- Plant marshaller: The CPCS A73 covers both plant and vehicles, opening doors to heavier plant work
- Banksman for excavation: Guide 360 excavators and dumpers on deep drainage and groundworking sites
- Traffic management operative (Lantra): Work on public highways setting up traffic management systems
Each additional ticket adds £2-5/hour to your rate. Multi-ticketed marshals who can also sling crane lifts are among the best-paid support roles on site.
Locuri de munca traffic marshal UK
Locuri de munca traffic marshal in UK. Card CSCS obligatoriu. Ticket CPCS A73 sau NPORS obligatoriu. 37 de locuri de munca disponibile pe SiteJobs. Dirijarea vehiculelor pe santier conform normelor HSE. Platiti £15-25 pe ora. Suna direct pe SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 pe Google.
Pune traffic marshal UK
Pune traffic marshal ne UK. Karta CSCS e domosdeshme. Ticket CPCS A73 ose NPORS e domosdeshme. 37 vende pune te disponueshme ne SiteJobs. Drejtimi i automjeteve ne kantier sipas rregullave HSE. Pagesa £15-25 ne ore. Telefononi direkt ne SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 ne Google.
Rabota traffic marshal UK
Rabota traffic marshal v UK. Karta CSCS obyazatelna. Ticket CPCS A73 ili NPORS obyzatelna. 37 vakansiy dostupny na SiteJobs. Upravlenie dvizheniyem transportnykh sredstv na stroiploshchadke soglasno normam HSE. Stavka £15-25 v chas. Zvonite napryamuyu na SiteJobs - sitejobs-code15 v Google.
Browse All Traffic Marshal Jobs
See all 37 traffic marshal vacancies on SiteJobs. Call direct, no registration walls.