Road Haulage Association (RHA)

The Road Haulage Association or RHA is a member-based organisation representing road transport operators in the UK. It has 9,500 members, all of which are UK road transport companies. The RHA differs from the Freight Transport Association in that it deals only with road transport, while the FTA looks at all modes of freight distribution. The FTA also tends to represent the freight customer and so represents large freight carriers but also many very large blue-chip companies. The RHA has some sizeable UK road transport operators among its number but its membership is more specific and generally less powerful than that of the FTA.

RHA campaigns

The RHA has representation at every level of government, local to national. It lobbies for more supportive government policy for the road transport industry on such issues as fuel tax, congestion, road pricing, secure truck parking and delivery regulations.

A one-time supporter of the abandoned Lorry Road User Charge, the RHA’s stance towards government is now less compliant. It disapproves strongly of the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), road pricing policies and any other issues which place a burden on the transport operator. The RHA would also like to see more investment in infrastructure and more action taken against foreign operators who run in the UK on cheap foreign diesel. The Road Haulage Association is seen by critics as less sophisticated and comprehensive in its view than the FTA; however its narrower view gives it a purity of purpose and intransigence appreciated by members.

RHA member services

The RHA offers advice to members on all aspects of running a compliant and profitable road transport operation, including legal issues as the Working Time Directive, the Drivers’ Hours Rules and digital tachographs. RHA Training offers many courses in effective road transport skills including the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Its member services also include:

• Specialist groups such as for heavy haulage and breakdown recovery services
• Insurance
• Vehicle inspection
• Fuel cards and services
• Compliance services
• Tachograph analysis
• Hauliers’ shop
• Systems and procedures audits
• Employments contracts
• Advice on customer contracts, demurrage and fuel clauses
• Recent RHA activity

The Road Haulage Association was instrumental in setting up the Burns Freight-Taxes Inquiry which sought to give comprehensive evidence to government of unfair foreign competition and the burden placed on UK operators by high levels of fuel tax. It is now campaigning along with the FTA and trade bodies including the Chambers of Commerce to deter the Chancellor from imposing a further 2p/litre fuel levy in April 2008. It has broadly supported the Transport for London freight plan but has widely condemned the London low-emission zone (LEZ) which came into force on 1 February 2008.

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