The latest National RTMS Workshop was hosted by Hino at the Pietersburg Club on 5 October 2012. This workshop targeted Road Freight Transport stakeholders from across the country. The workshop was well attended by representatives from many different facets of the transport industry, attracting about more that 60 guests. The Highlight of the event was the keynote address by the Deputy Minister of Transport, MS Sindisiwe Chikunga, which confirmed Government’s support of the RTMS initiative. The other facilitators of the workshop were Paul Nordengen – President of IFRTT, Senior Researcher CSIR; Kathy Bell – Manager, Vehicle and Asset Finance, Standard Bank; Keir Guild – Technical Director, WABCO; Gert Brits – General Manager, Unitrans Mining and Agriculture; Oliver Naidoo – RTMS Auditor, JC Auditors; Steve Cornelius – Head, Automotive Risk – Indwe Risk Services; Adrian Van Tonder – Chairman, RTMS National Committee.
Special Feature: Keynote Address by Deputy Minister of Transport
The workshop was proud to host Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms. Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga. Her presence demonstrated the importance with which government upholds the work and vision of RTMS. The Deputy Minister lauded the efforts of the RTMS National Committee who have driven the RTMS process in diverse sectors of the economy. Below are some of the key points made in her keynote address.
- October is Transport Month which makes it a significant time to address major challenges within the industry
- Department of Transport (DoT) is rectifying the legacy of a road network that was developed without a view for social integration since the late 1970’s
- Freight logistics plays a central role in the National Master Plan for South Africa (NATMAP), which details development strategies for South Africa in partnership with the
SADC region and the rest of the continent - The DM focused on the challenge of overloading of transporters as a major problem for South African roads; she identified the key challenges associated with this area including inadequate weighbridge equipment, variable weighing methods and inadequate funding for overload control; failure to address this problem could result in failing business development and investment opportunities
- National Overload Control Strategy (NOCS) is an important initiative that was completed in 2004 and its implementations strives to protect road infrastructure, improve safety on the roads and to ensure seamless movement of cargo; NOCS identified self-regulation as the most viable strategy
- RTMS is important as a self-regulation initiative that complements Government’s existing programmes and objectives pertaining to transport
- It has received the full support of Departments of Roads and Transport (KZN, MP and WC) and some key private sector organizations and associations; it must be driven by industry
- The DoT commissioned SABS to SABS to develop the Road Transport Management Standards and then embarked on awareness campaigns through which more industries and companies were informed
- RTMS becomes increasingly relevant in the face of the imminent implementation the National Road Traffic Amendment Act after which the Consignee/Consignors shall also be held liable for overloading and applicable traffic offences related to freight transport operations
- “In conclusion I must stress that government, the RTMS and the freight industry have to work together and understand the pressure that is being exerted on our road network and how the deterioration of the network can lead to increased congestion, destruction of the road network and subsequently derail the very effective transportation system that we desperately need for social and economic development.”