Diversified resources company Exxaro Resources Limited has become the first company in South Africa to achieve Road Transport Management System consignor and consignee accreditation.

The RTMS is an industry led, voluntary self-regulation system that encourages consignees, consignors and hauliers engaged in the road logistics value chain to implement a vehicle management system that preserves road infrastructure, improves road safety and increases the productivity of the logistics value chain.

The system consists of recommended practices for consignors, consignees and hauliers. Exxaro’s Grootegeluk and North Block Complex business units are the first company sites to receive RTMS accreditation. The Chamber of Mines and Eskom both support the RTMS initiative and RTMS supports the Department of Transport’s National Freight Logistics Strategy and the National Overload Control Strategy.

“As one of the country’s main coal suppliers to Eskom, we recognise that our logistics chain can contribute to deteriorating road infrastructure. Where we are not supplying Eskom by conveyor belts, our ultimate aim is to move as much coal as possible by rail, and where not possible, to move it responsibly by road.

Mr Mxolisi Mgojo Exxaro’s executive general manager for the coal division said that “Membership of the RTMS demonstrates our commitment to solving the road problem. Overloading causes premature road deterioration and, together with inadequate vehicle maintenance, driver fatigue and poor driver health, contributes significantly to South Africa’s poor road safety record and high logistical costs.”

Mr Mgojo believes the benefits of membership will not be limited to road safety and preservation, but will also result in productivity improvements. “Consignees, consignors and heavy vehicle operators will be able to demonstrate through an audit of their transport management systems that their vehicles and drivers comply with regulatory standards.

Mr Mgojo added that “Our membership of the RTMS also pre-empts the proposed changes to the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) which will make consignees and consignors jointly responsible for practices by their third party hauliers, and the implementation of AARTO’s demerit system, which will also impact on hauliers, not just individual drivers. We have implemented the RTMS system at our Grootegeluk and NBC business units and will extend it to the other units as well.”
Source – Exxaro