This week had a couple of clear stand outs…
Firstly, I was lucky enough to spend some time on the road with National Road Carrier’s Chair John Baillie, who introduced me to a range of operators around Auckland.
It was hugely enjoyable to get out and meet many of our members around Auckland and the south Auckland District. I visited operators spanning the breadth of industry, including earthmoving (N&J Wood), livestock transport (On Road Transport), truck-mounted cranes (Crane and Cartage, Pukekohe Hiab Transport), general transport (Knight & Dickey, Terence Howard & sons, Pukekohe Transport, RPC Logistics) and construction (CV Compton Ltd).
Very diverse businesses, but all facing the same challenges – poor road quality, a tight labour market and inflation-driven costs. Walking the floor at the Foodstuffs distribution centre at The Landing was impressive – the technology and design was cutting edge, and the size of the facility almost overwhelming. Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to meeting our members in the Waikato, lower North Island and Northland soon.
Secondly, in partnership with New Zealand Trucking Association Inc (NTA), we announced our industry leading transport wellbeing initiative – HARMfree Transport – has been selected to receive an ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Grand of $850,000 in funding.
NTA and NRC, along with AutoSense Ltd, Fatigue Management Fit for Duty Ltd, and Success Formula Ltd (NTI) will be working together to create a set of tools, information, resources, and training material that will be tailored to the needs of the transport industry. The programme will be focused on improving workplace safety and worker wellbeing and includes the implementation of consistent processes, procedures and policies that can be adopted as a roadmap to achieving a risk-free workplace.
Creating a programme that is industry-designed, industry-led, and supported by ACC, enables us to accelerate development and help our transport operators create safer workplaces while sharing best practice. And we know it will deliver other positive outcomes as with stronger health and safety systems and processes in place, hazards and risks are reduced and this flows through to safer drivers and trucks travelling on our roads. The initial ACC funding means we start delivering tangible results sooner.
HARMfree Transport is a great example of our refreshed NRC strategy turning into action, it demonstrates our desire to deliver increased pastoral care of our members, by providing tools and services that deliver practical solutions. We know our members want to create safer workplaces, and this initiative provides the type of hands-on support needed to make it happen.
The last three weeks have flown by, and I continue to be impressed by the knowledge, passion, and commitment of the people I have met across the industry. The pace isn’t letting up next week, and I am looking forward to being part of National Road Carrier’s first Transport and Logistics Advisory Group meeting. So, there will be plenty more to report next time, I’m sure.
As always, I’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to drop me a line, details are below.
Justin Tighe-Umbers
CEO | National Road Carriers Assn
DDI: +64 9 636 2951 E: justin.tighe-umbers@natroad.co.nz
‘Supporting those who choose to make a living in the Road Transport Industry’ Since 1936
