RHA party conference success drives haulage up the political agenda

National Lorry Week and the driver shortage were the two main points on the Association’s Manchester agenda and to highlight this, delegates and MP’s were given the opportunity to take the RHA’s own HGV Driver Challenge on the Transport and Road Research Laboratory’s own HGV driving simulator.

Commenting, RHA Chief Executive Richard Burnett said: “This event provided us with the perfect opportunity to highlight the key issues the industry is currently facing; in particular, the driver shortage.  The need for drivers is increasing, as is the need for government assisted funding. Our members, quite simply, cannot afford to train potential new drivers. This is now become the biggest issue ever to affect the UK haulage industry. One of the ways to encourage new entrants and to gain Government acknowledgement and understanding of the vital role we play in moving the UK economy is to bring the industry and its issues to the top of the political agenda.

“Our HGV Driver Challenge attracted a wide range of contenders, in particular we were pleased to welcome several senior Department for Transport officials including Patrick McLoughlin, Robert Goodwill, Stephen Hammond and Andrew Jones – all of whom set very respectable driving times. But of course the most important aspect of this was that it provided the perfect opportunity for us to talk in depth about the shortage of HGV drivers and the measures needed to tackle the problem. To that end, we were pleased that Channel 4 News anchorman Jon Snow turned up to take the challenge and he showed particular interest in what we had to say.”

The RHA also took its appearance at the Conference to push its latest initiative, National Lorry Week.  Running from 26 to 31 October, NLW will raise the profile of the industry through a nationwide series of events which will include members opening their yards to give the public the chance to get up ‘close and personal’ with trucks, radio stations and TV stations will be presenting live shows around the country and many members will be holding special events too.

“National Lorry Week represents the biggest nationwide event we have ever embarked upon”, Richard Burnett continued.  “The enthusiasm among our members to get involved at all levels  has been astounding and I am confident that by 31st October, everyone in the UK will be aware, not just of the dedication and hard work undertaken by our members on a daily basis but of the wide ranging career opportunities this dynamic industry has to offer”.