RHA

Representing the interests of the UK road transport sector and commercial vehicle operators (HGVs, coaches and vans). Driving business on our roads.

[RHA @RHANews]

A few photos from our 73rd Annual Dinner Dance in Harrogate this evening.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to raise funds for the RHA Benevolent Fund, which supports people in road transport and their families through difficult times.

Our thanks to Brabners for sponsoring the evening and to everyone who donated prizes, bought raffle tickets or placed a bid in the auction.

[RHA @RHANews]

This #WorldDiabetesDay, the focus is on early action. For road transport employers, that can start with helping teams recognise the signs of diabetes and making it easier for colleagues living with the condition to manage it at work.

The RHA was the first organisation in the UK to achieve Diabetes Safe accreditation. We worked with the Diabetes Safety Organisation to produce practical guidance on diabetes and safe driving, helping employers understand their responsibilities and support their drivers.

It’s the kind of practical action we’re encouraging through the RHA Wellbeing Charter. That could mean giving managers diabetes awareness training or making sure colleagues have a clean, private place to check their glucose levels or take medication.

Read our Safe Driving Guidance for Employers and make your pledge through the RHA Wellbeing Charter .

https://t.co/BnQR6Taghr

https://t.co/tw9hk0GOon

#WorldDiabetesDay #RHAWellbeingCharter

[RHA @RHANews]

Quick round-up of what we’ve been up to this week 👇

Politics & policy – Richard James Smith joined our parliamentary lunch on decarbonisation, hosted by Lord Taylor, and attended the Scaffolding Association’s 15th anniversary event.

International transport – Continued campaigning for a Schengen 90/180-day exemption for professional drivers ahead of the UK–EU Summit. We also met MPs Dr Al Pinkerton and Sarah Olney at Hedley’s Group to discuss cross-border challenges.

Environment & net zero – Chris Ashley joined a Sustainable Logistics LIVE panel discussing fleet electrification and infrastructure challenges.

Skills & careers – Joined forces with Logistics UK to encourage businesses to offer work experience placements for 14–16-year-olds.

Member engagement – Our Welsh Forum, Southern & Eastern Regional Council and autumn member briefings brought members together in Bridgend, Peterborough, Durham and Scotland.

Out on the road – Visited Freeburn Transport and A. Wheeler & Sons Transport to discuss industry challenges, costs and wellbeing.

Wellbeing & facilities – Aaron Peters presented our Wellbeing Charter at Transaid, while we continued championing better driver facilities and celebrated further coverage of our Scottish launch.

Content & insight – Our latest Roadway podcast explored diabetes and driver health with Richard.

And finally… congratulations to Paul Allera on his tenth Truck Radio show, bringing rock ’n’ roll to the road transport industry!

Back again next week 👍

#RHAMembership #RHACampaigns

[RHA @RHANews]

We're pleased to be collaborating with @LogisticsUKNews to encourage employers to pledge work experience opportunities for young people aged 14 to 16, as part of a national drive to create 200,000 additional placements across England.

Our MD, @RHARJSmith told @Motor_Transport: “This is a great opportunity for haulage, coach and van businesses to showcase opportunities for young people to build rewarding careers in road transport. Our industry offers so many different career paths for people from all walks of life; the challenge is connecting with the next generation and inspiring them to consider a future in our sector. It’s crucial that we attract more young people into the industry and build the foundations for a thriving future."

#RHACampaigns #RHAMembership #RHASkills

https://t.co/8niEHnaBJ7

[RHA @RHANews]

Today, our Senior Public Affairs Lead, @RHA_Ferdy, and Trade Policy Lead, @RHA_Alastair, joined @LibDems MPs Dr Al Pinkerton and Sarah Olney at family-owned specialist logistics firm Hedley's Group Ltd, hosted by General Manager Victor Jaques.

Ahead of the UK–EU Summit on 20 November, we highlighted the practical barriers facing British international road transport operators. Negotiations must prioritise a targeted, reciprocal exemption from the Schengen 90/180-day rule for professional HGV, coach, and van drivers, alongside reliable Entry/Exit System (EES) border recording and reduced customs duplication to keep British businesses competitive across Europe.

Thank you to Victor and the @HedleysGroup team for hosting, and to @AlPinkerton and @sarahjolney1 for taking the time to listen to some of the experiences from our sector.

#RHAcampaigns

[RHA @RHANews]

Police in Gwent report that some operators are ignoring a weight restriction when they’re moving abnormal loads such as mobile cranes along a stretch of the M4 in south Wales.

Officers urge firms to ensure that drivers are using correct routes, avoiding the weight restricted section between junctions 24-28 at #Newport.

All vehicles exceeding 44 tonnes are prohibited from using that part of the M4.

https://t.co/PfSK1ouhti

#AbnormalLoads #RHACostsAndRegulation

[RHA @RHANews]

The Government has opened the next Depot Charging Scheme application window today.

They aim to support the uptake of zero emission HGVs, vans, and coaches by part-funding the installation of charging infrastructure at fleet depots.

Officials say that applications will be assessed on a first-come-first-served basis or competitively if oversubscribed. The application window will close on 26 February 2027, and projects will have until 31 March 2028 to complete works.

This application cycle for projects implemented in 2027/28 will cover 60% of charge point and civil costs incurred, up to a maximum of £1 million across all sites. There is no limit to the number of sites that can be applied for, but the scheme is limited to one application per organisation.

The funding programme runs up to 2030.

https://t.co/6E5Cl8NcG6

#Decarbonisation #NetZeroForum #NetZero

[RHA @RHANews]

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.

[RHA @RHANews]

We put a lot of effort into keeping vehicles fit for the road. The people behind the wheel deserve the same attention.

That was the message from Aaron Peters at Transaid ’s Technical Advisory Board today, where he spoke about the #RHAWellbeingCharter and the Guide to Maintaining Driver Health.

The Charter is for businesses of all sizes across the truck, coach and van sectors. It covers drivers and the wider workforce, because the culture around a driver shapes the support they receive day to day.

Brigade Electronics Group Plc joined the discussion and shared its work on the Charter’s mental wellbeing pillar.

We also talked about what needs to change in practice, from safe, secure parking and better roadside facilities to training and leadership within businesses.

Thank you to Transaid for bringing us together and to everyone who took part in the discussion.

[RHA @RHANews]

A big thanks as ever to members who joined us at our Southern & Eastern Regional Council today.

We hosted today’s session in #Peterborough where we were pleased to get everyone’s perspectives on our industry’s challenges and how we can work together to tackle them.

Members today were updated on the annual cost survey, Wellbeing Charter, Benevolent Fund, HaulageHub and on our campaigning.

Our regional councils play a vital governance role, giving haulage, coach and van operators a voice to influence the future of the sector.

#RHAMembership #RHACampaigns #RHACostsAndRegulation

[RHA @RHANews]

Today's @TransportFocus report reveals that HGV drivers are less satisfied than the wider public with the quality of motorway services (90% vs 95%).

Our senior public affairs lead, @RHAAshton told @Motor_Transport that truckers deserve to have ready access to high-quality services stations and truck stops, and somewhere safe and secure to park...

#RHACampaigns #RHAFacilities #FreightCrime #RHAWellbeingCharter

https://t.co/BtKbmT4aV7

[RHA @RHANews]

Concerning reports in the media (including this piece in the @Independent) of people being threatened with European travel bans and fines for overstaying in the Schengen Area when they haven’t.

Stricter enforcement of the 90 days in 180 rule has been in play since the Entry/Exit System (EES) went fully operational from April.

But some travelling Britons say that their exits from EU visits haven’t been logged leaving them facing the sanctions next time they attempt to enter.

And members have flagged similar instances with their drivers.

Coach and truck drivers serving European routes cross the Schengen border multiple times. They are at heightened risk of unfair enforcement if their Schengen records are inaccurate.

We continue to raise this issue with ministers and officials, calling for a suspension of enforcement against professional drivers until the EES is working flawlessly.

We also urge the Government to prioritise securing a professional drivers’ exemption in its negotiations with the EU, to protect the health of the UK-EU economic relationship.

https://t.co/ecgihlI77y

#RHACampaigns #RHAInternational #EUUKSummit

[RHA @RHANews]

A big thanks to everyone who joined us at our autumn member briefing in #Peterborough last night.

As ever there was a lot of energy in the room and a good opportunity for haulage, coach and van operators to get up to date with industry developments from the traffic commissioners, legal services, insurance services and us.

Tomorrow night we're at Durham Cricket Club in Chester-Le-Street. Safe journey if you're joining us... Reserve your spot here.

https://t.co/tvv8OQyzrm

#RHAMembership

[RHA @RHANews]

https://t.co/4TrSsdyzMC

[RHA @RHANews]

Congratulations to the @welcomebreak Rotherham on being rated as Britain’s best motorway service area.

They received a 99% satisfaction rate in a @TransportFocus motorway services user survey, with more than 8 in 10 visitors saying they’d recommend the services.

The survey asked people about toilets, accessibility, food and drink, facilities for HGV drivers and EV charging.

Across the poll of 123 sites, HGV drivers reported a 90% rate of satisfaction which was lower than the general public (95%); improving conditions for professional drivers is a key priority for the RHA.

People who drive trucks, coaches and vans deserve to have access to high-quality facilities when they’re out on the road. Similarly, lorry parking should be safe – but we estimate there’s a need for another 11,000 secure lorry parking spaces in the country. Closing this gap is a crucial component in reducing opportunities for criminal gangs to target trucks for fuel and cargo.

We look forward to seeing further HGV driver insights from Transport Focus next month.

Link to report in the comments...

#RHAInfrastructure #RHAFacilities #RHACampaigns #FreightCrime

[RHA @RHANews]

Our latest Roadway - the Podcast. This episode focuses on preventing #diabetes and supporting our people living with the condition.

We talk about our journey to become a Diabetes Safe organisation, and how you can do similar through the #RHAWellbeingCharter

[Richard Smith @RHARJSmith]

NOW LIVE | Diabetes, Driver Health and the RHA Wellbeing Charter

How much do we really know about diabetes and the impact it can have on those working across road transport?

From hidden health risks to the importance of early diagnosis and creating supportive workplaces, diabetes is a conversation our industry needs to be having.

In the latest episode of Roadway – The Podcast, RHA Managing Director Richard Smith is joined by Kate Walker from the Diabetes Safety Organisation and Clare Murphy from the RHA to discuss:

- Why diabetes awareness matters across the HGV, coach and van sectors.
- The practical steps employers can take to support their workforce.
- The RHA's journey to becoming Diabetes Safe.
- How this work supports our wider ambitions through the RHA Wellbeing Charter.

Supporting the health and wellbeing of the people who keep Britain moving is at the heart of our Wellbeing Charter, and conversations like these are an important part of making a real difference.

The episode is now live!

👉 Click here to listen: https://t.co/VKwA6sRQpc
or watch: https://t.co/XFGyaD35M7

#RoadwayPodcast #RHAWellbeing #DiabetesAwareness #DriverHealth #RoadTransport #WellbeingAtWork

[RHA @RHANews]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

#RemembranceSunday