Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

Delegates at last year's Road Transport Forum Conference in Taupo may remember Transport Minister Phil Twyford discussing the possibility of the Government developing an accord with the transport industry, similar to what's been done with the construction sector.
In my opinion, progressing such an accord would be in the interests of both the industry and Government – and makes perfect sense when it comes to the importance of road transport to the country's economy.
The Construction Sector Accord was a response to the critical role that building and construction companies play in the provision of houses and infrastructure. The failure of a few big construction firms ov...

Five new training programmes released late last year offer drivers the opportunity to upskill while they are on the job and earning.
RTF has been working across the industry and with industry training organisation MITO to develop a new suite of training courses relevant to the professional driver of the 21st Century.
Five new Level 3 and 4 qualifications are now available to those employed in the industry and can be undertaken through MITO. They are:
The New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport Skills (Level 3)
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Heavy Vehicle Operator - Level 3)
The NZ Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Speci...

Nearly four years after it began, the Rollover Prevention Safer Journeys programme is still going strong…and is as relevant as ever.
The programme is a joint initiative between the Road Transport Forum and New Zealand Transport Agency and is supported by ACC and the Police.
Workshops around the country are organised in collaboration with RTF's three associations – National Road Carriers, Road Transport Association NZ and the NZ Trucking Association.
The programme's seminar-style workshop is expertly presented by NZTA's Jeff Fleury. Jeff is a highly regarded vehicle safety specialist and, with over 40 years of experience and plenty of time around the heavy ...

Road Transport Forum is working hard behind the scenes with officials from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency as they develop a replacement for the now defunct Operator Rating System (ORS).
"This is a critical piece of work that will have significant implications for transporters for many years to come, which is why we are pushing to make the new system as fair as possible," says RTF chief executive Nick Leggett.
"Despite certain sectors drum-beating for a tough and restrictive regulatory regime around heavy vehicles, RTF is strongly advocating for a balanced approach that incentivises compliance and assists transport companies to be their best.
"With the road t...

The National Livestock Transport & Safety Group (NLTSG) bid farewell to its longtime secretary Tom Cloke, who retired from the position just prior to Christmas….after nearly 15 years of service.
Group chair Don Wilson says that "Tom has been heavily involved in all of the NLTSG's initiatives – from the development of animal welfare and bobby calf regulations, to the institution of the NZ Livestock Transport Assurance programme, the creation of the Stock Crate Code and the Fit for Transport App.
"Each one of these projects has Tom's signature all over it."
The NLTSG looks after the interests of approximately 95% of the commercial livestock transport ind...