Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of The Road Freight Association, speaks out on attacks against the trucking industry
Once again, the road freight and logistics industry is being held ransom and attacked by parties who are unhappy with conditions or matters within the sector. The Road Freight Association (RFA) has repeatedly called on the SAPS to protect the lives and health of our drivers, to protect the vehicles and cargoes of our members and to ensure that, whilst there is the right to highlight and discuss issues, that the blatant disregard of anyone else’s right to safety, security, employment and the opportunity to operate a business for the betterment of all cannot be tolerated.
Those employers that are not registered with the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) must be dealt with. Those officials who are open to bribery and corruption, who refuse to perform their duties in terms of the mandates given to the various Departments, must be censured or disciplined.
We cannot continue to absorb these attacks: the compliant operators are being continually attacked and pushed out of the sector. South Africa is losing any sense of safety and efficiency in terms of moving goods through the country to the ports. We are beginning to feel the backlash from neighbouring countries. We must fix this.
The Road Freight Association was established in 1975 to support its Members who are, in the main, road freight operators. It is a lobbying and negotiating body which influences the state of the industry, rates, upkeep of the road infrastructure, road safety, freight security, driver interests, cross-border transport, education, health, the fuel price, law enforcement, labour relations and many other issues related to road freight transport.
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