professionalism in the road freight industry

Gavin A KellyTechnical & 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


• 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)


• 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?

professionalism in the road freight industry

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