RHA creates strategic partnership with Heavy Transport Association

RHA creates strategic partnership with Heavy Transport Association

22 Sep 2022 Posted By James Evison

The RHA is pleased to announce a working partnership with the Heavy Transport Association, which we hope will help the transport industry tackle issues such as arduous diversions and other load restrictions on British roads.

As referenced in a recent Sunday Times article, it is estimated 32,000 HGVs weighing more than 44 tonnes travel on the road network each month, including abnormal loads such as turbines, cranes and other machinery needing to keep the country moving.

This partnership is intended to highlight the plight of members forced into such financially, logistically, and environmentally inefficient workarounds and show just how inept some routes are for the bedrocks of the economy- which are the hauliers.

Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA, said: “I am delighted to be working in partnership with the Heavy Transport Association, supporting their vital work in highlighting the investment needed from Government in our infrastructure and the needs of heavy and abnormal load operators.

“Their members are a highly specialist group of operators and we look forward to supporting them on joint campaigns and engagement with local and national Governments.”

The HTA was formed in 1983 by a group of heavy haulage operators struggling to cope with less than clear regulations regarding the movement of abnormal loads. It seemed apparent that enforcement authorities/police officers were not happy to have abnormal loads on the roads and so the operators decided that something had to be done.

Initial meetings were informal and then as news of the meetings spread, more and more operators wanted to attend – that was over 30 years ago, and now the RHA are going to work with the HTA to stress the importance of securing vital road improvements.

Marcus Gough, Chairman of the Heavy Transport Association, said: “We are extremely pleased and excited to work collaboratively with the Road Haulage Association on this joint initiative to achieve a fit for purpose strategic road network, that can support everyday abnormal loads without the need to consistently detour around sub-standard structures. This will directly benefit our joint members, the environment and UK plc.

“The Heavy Transport Association is the only dedicated professional body solely representing the abnormal vehicle, loads and escort vehicles sector, our aim is to improve safety and process on UK roads for our members. It’s an exciting time to be involved in the sector supporting major government infrastructure projects throughout the country.”

To find out more about the wider RHA Facilities campaign, click here.

You can also find out more about the Heavy Transport Association, here.

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