RHA encourages youth participation with National Lorry Week

By Tim Campbell

1 September 2016

National Lorry Week is set to return from 19-24 September, with a focus on career paths in the transport industry.

The awareness week will take the theme of ‘The Next Generation’ and has been developed to engage with schoolchildren and college students to highlight the wide range of employment opportunities available within the industry.

RHA national chairman, Jim French said: “We’ve had an incredible response from our members for this year’s Love the Lorry week. The whole industry recognises the fact that we need to fire-up the next generation and show them the opportunities that are open to them. This industry is going through a period of renewal and we need more drivers; women as well as men. But the industry is more than just drivers. We need warehouse operatives, mechanics, technicians, IT specialists, transport managers and marketing experts. The haulage and logistics industry has something for everyone.”

Some hauliers will be taking their vehicles to local schools, colleges and into town centres; giving everyone the chance to get up close and personal with a truck.

PJ and J Dearden held a very successful family fun day last year and is hoping to go bigger this year.

Helen Dearden said: “We are teaming up with a number of other hauliers in the area to run a family fun day in aid of the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance. We are delighted that our MP, Marcus Fysh will be opening our event, and the Mayor of Chard, Dave Bulmer will be there too. We are hoping to attract an even bigger crowd this year, in particular, the next generations.”

This is just one example of the keen enthusiasm shown by RHA members taking part in National Lorry Week 2016. It’s an industry that they are very proud of – a pride they are keen to share.

In addition to engaging with the public, the RHA will also host a parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster on 14th September to raise awareness among members of Parliament and senior civil servants to the challenges faced by the industry that is responsible for moving 85% of the nation’s goods by road.