The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has formed a membership body that it says is designed specifically to support coach operators. It will launch in April 2021.
RHA says the new organisation will debut following requests from the coach sector. It adds that the extension of its existing offering to capture coaches fits with RHA’s “strategic direction.” Its membership now includes operators of commercial vehicles, trucks, vans, plant and coaches.
Coach operators that sign up will “gain access to the same intelligence, support services and resources offered to all RHA members, but with the added benefit of some sector-specific support designed to help them maintain productive and profitable operations,” RHA says in a statement. It will add operational and policy roles to serve the coach sector.
Says Chief Executive Richard Burnett: “I am sure that the immediate reaction of some people to this news will inevitably be one of surprise. However, there are remarkable similarities and synergies between operators of HGVs and coaches.
“Coach fleets vary in size – the smallest having less than 10 vehicles and the largest around 100-150. Many are family run businesses with depots in one or two regional locations, operating a range of different vehicle sizes to meet the demands of their customers.”
RHA claims that “many [coach] operators feel let down by the representation offered by their current trade body.” The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has responded to that by saying it is “best placed” to help the coach industry as it recovers in 2021.
A statement from the Confederation adds: “CPT has unrivalled access to decision makers across government, the media and other stakeholders who are all central to decisions that impact coach operators. CPT members also benefit from unlimited advice on all compliance and operational matters from a range of subject matter experts, as well as bespoke offers and services from a range of commercial partners. That level of expertise is not available anywhere else.”
