The RFA annual Convention this year is gearing up to bring the latest news on trucking issues, unravelling legislative impacts and having open discussions on challenges in the road freight industry.

This year’s conference line-up includes:

• The Future of Collective Bargaining: The RFA is a key stakeholder in negotiating the industry wages and as such is very involved in collective bargaining. The recent strikes have led many to question the value of collective bargaining and some may even be willing to contend with shop level bargaining and all its ills. With almost 25% of the country’s labour force being unionised, is collective bargaining an inevitable part of our future landscape?

• Alignment of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Sector Codes: The RFA is in consultations with the Department of Transport regarding the alignment of the Road Freight Transport, Logistics Sub-Sector B-BBEE Charter (Road Freight Sector) and the revised Revised BEE Codes of Good Practice. The outcome of these discussions will strongly impact on the strategic direction road freight companies use in scoring and aligning their B-BBEE.

• The Impact of the Carbon Tax on the Country: National Treasury, having realised that their proposed Carbon Tax of R120/ton is unaffordable, is busy reviewing the Tax, which has now been delayed by a year – until 2016. Although well received, we need to understand the full impact of the Carbon Tax and its implications. Some industries will be completely eradicated if the Tax is implemented and to our largest energy provider this will simply be unaffordable. We are aware that Government is reviewing incentives for these industries but not for the trucking industry and truckers may bear the brunt of this Tax through a fuel levy. Our panel comprising Government and energy users will debate this matter.

• Anti-Competitiveness and Crossing the Line: The cellular phone industry and the construction industry are two industries which have fallen foul of the Competition Commission and have had to pay out huge sums of money for transgressions. With Associations now coming under the spotlight and our industry next, members need to be aware of what constitutes anti-competitive behaviour.

•  Panel discussion on “Building South Africa”: Good infrastructure is the foundation for our country’s economic development. Bad roads not only obstruct and delay movement of goods and passengers, but also increase the cost of vehicle maintenance, and endanger safety. Our panel will debate what can be done to build a better South Africa with infrastructure that can carry this economy.