In line with its strategy to provide all-encompassing software solutions for the transport industry, Forte Transport Solutions has brought on board Road Transport Management System (RTMS) specialist consultant Riaan van Wyk to facilitate RTMS accreditation preparation for its customers.
As road transport operators increasingly tune into the benefits of being RTMS accredited, Forte managing director Renko Bergh believes the move is a timely one from which the transport industry can benefit if applied correctly.
RTMS is an industry-led, voluntary self-regulation programme that encourages consignees, consignors and transport operators 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. It has at its heart SABS standards for transporters.
“Although it’s still a voluntary system, transporters are often forced into it by their clients,” says Van Wyk. “The likes of Eskom, some mines, Sappi and Mondi use it as leverage to set a standard for their transporters – so it’s in the transporters' interests to get accredited if they want to go after this business.
“It’s about being proactive, not overloading, and managing drivers. Effectively it’s a noddy badge to prove you’re doing everything right.”
Transporters are audited annually and accreditation is valid for 3 years. Bergh explained the synergy that could be achieved through the agreement with Van Wyk.
“Forte Transport Solutions, in partnership with our logistics software partners, continuously strives to align the reports and modules within the software to produce forms required for RTMS accreditation, in the format that the auditor requests. By offering the transporter a system that drafts the forms in the required format, a lot of time can be saved. The software itself does not ensure accreditation, but we want to align to document trails within the system as far as possible with requirements.”
Forte will host the RTMS facility under its transport solutions umbrella.
“We totally support self-regulation,” said Bergh. “Our mission is to increase the positive impact that software can have for our clients and we want to align that with the advantages that self-regulation brings over and above that.”
RTMS started in the sugar and timber industries more than a decade ago. Since then there’s been steady expansion into new sectors – from mining and general cargo to bus companies and bulk liquids.
According to Bergh, there is strong support for the concept of self-regulation in the SA Development Community (SADC) region.
“If we accept that efficiency and safety go together and that for efficiency consignors, consignees and truckers are dependent on each other, then being accountable to each other is fundamental in addressing the problems on our roads,” said Van Wyk.
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Forte managing director Renko Bergh (right) and RTMS consultant Riaan van Wyk.
