SUGAR AND AGRICULTURE PROCEEDING WITH RTMS

The Road Transport Management System (RTMS) which has been successful in Australia is making its way into South Africa.  The system, which is already functioning in KZN and is expected to be introduced in Mpumalanga, is not yet part of the country’s logistics landscape nationwide.

Sugar and Agriculture General Manager (South Africa and Swaziland) Robby Stevenson sees the opportunities which the RTMS standard offers as an important step forward both in sugar and in forestry.  He says that several Unitrans depots are currently in the RTMS audit process even though the system is still in its early stages in South Africa.

Stevenson says, “RTMS participation is important in forestry because SAPPI and Mondi are now only allowing you to tender if you have RTMS accreditation.   RTMS is based on self-regulation and so, if you're a responsible haulier and you're self-regulated with regard to driver training and qualification, legal load limits and speeding, then you are allowed to apply for design approval of larger-load vehicles.  The whole concept is fewer trucks on the road which are operated responsibly with bigger payloads.   

“We are taking the initiative to be the first to develop a unit in sugarcane.   We are developing a niche for ourselves and looking ahead to the large volumes these units will enable us to haul both in sugarcane and forestry.” 

 

Robby Stevenson