Gavin A Kelly

Technical & Operations Manager 26 May 2015

Professionalism in the Road Freight Industry

Outline of presentation

• The RFA in 2015

• Perceptions of the RFA

• Role DoT wants the RFA to play

• Role of “RFA’s” in other countries (RHA / ATA as examples)

• Proposed future role of RFA

• Member input into future role

The RFA in 2015

• Represents road freight operators

• Membership is voluntary

• Core focus is on issues affecting operators

• Funded by membership & fund raising activities

Member’s view of RFA

• source of assistance (prosecution) & legislative enquiries

• legal defence

• source of data to support operations

• labour support

• voice to protect their interests

Public view of RFA

• relatively unknown entity

• government agency?

• confused with the RAF

• no idea of the role of RFA

Freight industry view of RFA

• Provider / broker of loads / contracts

• Expensive (membership fee, events)

• Question value / benefits

• Perception that big operators run RFA for their sole objectives

• Plays Ombudsman role

Freight industry view of RFA

• Code of conduct restrictive on business models / conduct

• Exclusive social club of large operators

• Interests protected even if not a Member

• Exclusive social club of large operators

Government view of RFA

• strong opponent / prepared to challenge legislation through courts

• research organisation / source for economic impact data

• protector of member’s interests to the detriment of government policy

• source of meaningful input on transport & traffic legislation

• elitist and exclusive

Government view of RFA

• source of meaningful input on transport & traffic legislation

• source of operational expertise

• credible stakeholder in policy creation (seek endorsement)

• status confusion – agency?

• confusion of role – eg trainers of drivers, examiners of vehicles

Role DoT wants RFA to play

• Sort out badly skilled drivers

• Sort out non-roadworthy vehicles

• Cease abuse of drivers (employment practices)

• Cease usage of foreign drivers

• Expand trucking into SMME market

• Stop “carnages” (road safety)

Role DoT wants RFA to play

• Stop overloading

• Support multi-modal transport

Role of “RFAs” in other countries

• Control entry into freight

• Gateway to finance

• Monitor maintenance

• Require minimum training standards

• Monitor and (in some cases) operate overload control centres

• Monitor driving hours & provision of facilities for madatory truck stops

Role of “RFAs” in other countries

• Driver health & wellness programme

• Licence & violation monitoring

• Crash investigations

• Oversize load movement control

• Provide link between operators and consignors

• Road condition & weather information

Proposed future role of RFA

• “Truck Safe” programme specific to industry & presented to public

• Licensing of freight operators & auditing of minimum standards

• Accreditation & auditing of driver training centres

• Accreditation & auditing of driver testing centres

Proposed future role of RFA

• Accreditation & auditing of vehicle testing centres

• Ongoing defensive driver training and assessment

• Specialist training provision (eg DGoods, Abnormal, Bulk ore)

• Driver incident monitoring system

• Provision of extended freight services (eg escorting / recovery)

Proposed future role of RFA

• Revoking of operator licence due to non-compliance with industry minimum standards

• Official sanction & support

• Funding model / support

Member input into future role

• What do Members think the role of the RFA should be?

• What role should the RFA NOT take on?