The road transport industry is often characterised by the vehicles that the public see out on the road, but the reality is that what makes this industry tick is the people.

We all know companies and employees who go the extra mile to provide great service to their customers and who are the first to step up when others need help.

“These companies are often the ones that never have to advertise for new staff because people are lining up to work there,” says Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett. 

“Different staff at different levels tend to lead by example and this means great results for the whole organisation.

“Now is the time for these outstanding industry leaders to be recognised. The people who deserve the pat on the back and the handshake are often reluctant to put themselves forward for awards….so the rest of us need to step up and do it for them.

“This is where the 2021 NZ Road Transport Industry Awards come in,” Leggett says – adding: “The awards were set up a number of years ago to recognise best practice and achievement in the industry. They are a way of honouring individuals, organisations and companies that have gone above and beyond industry requirements in raising skills, safety practices, knowledge, training, industry awareness, innovation and expertise.

“Now, more than ever, it is important that the road transport industry shows NZ just how professional we are. In recent years we have been the ones to keep the country going, connecting communities cut off because of earthquakes or weather events, and ensuring that – even in the middle of a pandemic – the public could still walk into a supermarket and find the shelves full.

“We understand that truckies don’t like tooting their own horn, but it’s important to develop a culture where young drivers and staff have people they look up to.”

The NZ Road Transport Industry Award categories are: VTNZ Supreme Contribution to NZ Road Transport; EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety; Teletrac Navman Outstanding Contribution by a Woman in the Road Transport Industry; and the EROAD Young Driver of the Year (under 35). Go to the events section of the RTF website (www.rtf.nz), where the entry guidelines and the nomination form are available for download.

Entries are now open so if you know someone who has made a real difference in their field, please nominate them now.

In 2019 (there were no awards last year due to COVID-19) the awards celebrated diversity in the industry, with three of the awards going to women.

Carla Seymour Mansell from Seymours Transport Services in Gisborne took out the EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety Award; Ayna Shamim, from Angel Transport in Auckland, received the first ever Teletrac Navman Outstanding Contribution by a Woman in the Road Transport Industry Award; and Summer Ratima Thompson, from G J Sheldrake, in Tokoroa, was the EROAD Young Driver of the Year.

Jeff Mear, national sales director at Fruehauf New Zealand in Auckland, received the VTNZ Supreme Contribution to NZ Road Transport Award, while the Castrol Truck Driver Hero Award went to Rex Temm, from Riordan & West in Te Awamutu.

Nominations are also open for the Castrol Truck Driver Hero Award. If you know someone who has through their actions helped others to safety or in distress while out on the road, go to the RTF or NZ Truck & Driver magazine websites to get your nomination in.

This year, winners will be acknowledged and presented with a trophy at the gala dinner at The Road Ahead 2021 Transporting New Zealand Conference in Invercargill in September.

If you make your conference booking by July 31 you can take advantage of the discounted early bird registration price of $675 for both days. From August 1 the cost will be $750.

You can register and get more information about the conference on the dedicated website: https://www.rtfconference.co.nz