National Road Carriers Association

BACK TO THE FUTURE

By James Smith, COO of National Road Carriers Association

James Smith

AS I STEP INTO THE DRIVING SEAT OF NRC IT IS BEST

to start with why I chose to return to the National Road Carriers Association after 10 years working elsewhere in the industry I joined in 1982.

The role of the association is unique, in that it can make a significant difference to those members who engage well with the range of services we provide.

In my time working for two large operators as a transport manager, it was clear the need for the association is as strong as it was on October 5, 1936 – when a group of owner carriers gathered at the Trades Hall in Hobson Street.

It was also clear the industry was going to require a strong association to assist members of all sizes for many decades.

National Road Carriers is in the fortunate position of having a very capable and engaged governance board that can see the big picture, very capable and dedicated staff who can deliver support to members, and a healthy balance sheet from strong supplier partnerships that ensures the association is sustainable without having to go cap in hand for sponsorship or to raise membership fees.

With both board members and staff from a variety of industry backgrounds spread throughout the North Island, we can get boots on the ground quickly to respond to local issues.

It is important to emphasise the role of the association and how it works with other organisations, especially the Road Transport Forum.

Our primary role is to assist our members to operate within the current rules, to provide members with tools and guidance that allow them to make informed decisions on the best options for them to be successful.

Where we encounter a rule that requires a change or an area where members believe the Government is not doing enough, we provide whatever assistance is required by the team at the Road Transport Forum to enable change.

Feedback from the membership is vital to guiding us to the most important issues.

From what I have seen and heard at the local meetings the NRC team has attended recently, the state of our roads is a top priority. New Zealand is paying the price in lost productivity for decades of deferred infrastructure investment.

Successive Governments and local councils have kicked the can down the road for decades, as the priority to be re-elected outweighed the priority of making the unpopular call to increase funding on infrastructure.

Unfortunately, the can has now disappeared down a pot-hole, so the issue of degraded infrastructure cannot be deferred any longer.

It is important to acknowledge that the officials the National Road Carriers team are dealing with have inherited this issue and are in most cases receptive to finding solutions. Without a time-machine we cannot get to those who caused the problem.

In addition to this critical challenge, the industry is facing the biggest change in technology since it moved away from motive power that ate hay and oats. As with that transition, this will require clear guidance to both members and regulators as to the best pathway forward, as it is likely there will be multiple options and a degree of risk for both early adopters and those who get left behind.

National Road Carriers will develop new tools and partnerships to assist members to navigate the best way to a zero-carbon transport solution.

One certainty is that the road transport industry will adapt and will continue to be the dominant player in moving freight – it will simply be the vehicle carrying the load that will change.

The industry will still require skilled staff, both as drivers and managers, and the skill shortage is as pressing an issue as ever. Expect National Road Carriers to continue to work on solutions to this challenge. Please, as operators, do your part by supporting our initiatives to bring new skills into our workforce.

NRC is already very much engaged with agencies, suppliers and other critical links in the supply chain. The team will continue to be on the road clocking up the kilometres, meeting members and those who impact their business. The association will continue to look for solutions to problems, smarter ways for members to do business and how to be the critical link between the problem and the solution.

And that is why this role is one of the most exciting in the industry, as every day the team at National Road Carriers makes a difference. There are not many roles like ours.

See you on the road and remember – the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask. So pick up the phone and call 0800 686 777 or send an email to enquiries@natroad.co.nz and one of our team will track down an answer for you. T&D