BREAKTRHOUGH RTMS ACCREDITATION AWARDED TO TWO SUGAR AND AGRICULTURE DEPOTS

After months of hard work, strategically situated Amatikulu and Ngodwana depots are the first in the Unitrans Group to be awarded RTMS (Road Transport Management System) accreditation.  This prestigious award made on 29 September 2009 further distinguishes the Unitrans Amatikulu depot as the first sugar logistics depot in the industry to receive this recognition.  The Ngodwana depot is an integral part of the company’s forestry logistics operation in Mpumalanga and both are part of the USCS Sugar and Agriculture division.

The RTMS concept was launched in South Africa in October 2006 and is based on an Australian road safety model aimed at reducing 1) heavy vehicle overloading that result in premature road deterioration, and 2) the major road safety problems that occur due to inadequate vehicle maintenance, driver fatigue and poor driver health. It is hoped that the introduction of this meaningful self-regulation tool in the heavy vehicle transport industry will help road authorities’ address these problems whilst reducing the overall costs of logistics.

For Unitrans to quality for the RTMS accreditation, depots have to adhere to the RTMS stringent operational criteria around loading, driver wellness, vehicle operations and productivity. RTMS ultimately allows for greater transparency, whilst reducing the direct law enforcement and costly procedures required in governing the transport industry.

The RTMS accreditation also allows Unitrans to engage with industry players to become involved with demonstration projects that are aimed at developing efficient, safe and sustainable supply chain solutions. Such projects include developing a PBS (Performance Based Standard) vehicle. 

What is PBS?
Using a set of safety and infrastructure protection standards, PBS focuses on how vehicles behave on the road, rather than how big and heavy (length and mass) they are.  In other words, PBS governs what a vehicle can do, not what it should look like.

How does PBS work?
Designers can use engineering and technological innovation to build a heavy vehicle which complies with high standards for vehicle stability, rollover risk, and the ability to turn in traffic within a safe ‘envelope’.  The management of ‘tail swing’ and measures to protect roads and bridges from excessive ‘wear and tear’ are also addressed.

Ultimately, RTMS and PBS are strategic tools that will differentiate Unitrans from competitors while adding value to existing and potential clients. The accreditation will form part of Sugar and Agriculture quality management systems designed to reduce logistical problems and costs, while demonstrating an ongoing commitment to corporate governance.

Congratulations to Alan Gordon and Vinesh Gayaram and their teams on achieving the accreditation.

Unitrans Sugar & Agriculture Operations Service Excellence Manager Richard Rauff (left) and Unitrans Senior Zululand Depot Manager Alan Gordon with their RTMS accreditations for the Ngodwana and Amatikulu depots, respectively.