There will be an important announcement about a brand new service provision for members, which will compliment our existing best in class portfolio.
The RHA’s policy team and other experts will be on-hand to discuss the ever-increasing number of industry issues, including the driver shortage, cycle safety, congestion and the daily impact of the Calais migrant crisis on UK-bound hauliers crossing the Channel.
Stand SG30 will feature another recently launched initiative; She’s RHA. Women already play a key role in the transport and logistics sector, but they are still in the minority. To address this, She’s RHA will promote a new and welcoming culture for the industry and a forum for women to share advice, information and knowledge. This initiative will not only create a much-needed spirit of camaraderie, it will also highlight the vast range of career choices the industry has to offer.
As part of its push to tackle the UK driver shortage, the RHA in association with Dunlop, will be launching the 2016 HGVHeroes campaign on the adjacent Stand No SG38. With a driver shortage of between 45,000 and 50,000, HGVHeroes is aimed at attracting more people into an HGV driving career. This initiative is set to redefine the driving profession and address the issue of insurance premiums for young drivers, simplifying the qualification process and tackling the lack of adequate and secure roadside facilities that are so desperately needed.
We will also be announcing full details of our plans for national Lorry Week 2016. This year the theme is the next generation.
In addition, there will be a competition specifically for visitors to the RHA and Dunlop stands at the show during which there will be an opportunity for visitors to make donations to Transaid.
A haulier’s O-licence is their most valuable asset and the key to its protection relies on a thorough knowledge of its undertakings and the key to compliance is effective and regular training. Our ‘Transport Manager CPC’ and ‘Managing your O–licence’ refresher courses cover all aspects of O-licence acquisition and retention and prove extremely successful with senior managers, own-account operators, transport supervisors and traffic office staff.
The ‘Transport Manager CPC’ course from the RHA, has one of the highest average pass rates in the UK with over 70% of candidates passing the OCR examination.
All of the courses provided by the RHA can be found in the latest edition of the RHA’s training prospectus.
Once again, the RHA, together with show partners the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers will be playing host to the Manufacturing Institute’s Make It Challenge. Following last year’s excellent one-day event, this year’s challenge will run on each day of the show, and will give 140 twelve to fourteen year old students the opportunity to see what makes this industry move and will include safety issues, efficiency and telematics.
Following a tour of the halls, the students will be tasked with designing, building and ultimately selling their idea to a team of industry ‘dragons’. Chief dragon for each day will be Ian Jones of solicitors Backhouse Jones. Other dragons include Rob Flello MP, Chair of the All Party Freight Group, Microlise MD Bob Harbey, Freightlink and She’s RHA founder member Lesley O’Brien, Horsepower Training executive director Jan Carter, Iveco Director for Brand and Communications Nigel Emms, Andy Salter, MD Road Transport Media and the RHA’s Chief Executive Richard Burnett.