About RFA

Making the industry work for you

The Road Freight Association (RFA) is the largest and most comprehensive national trade association for the trucking industry. Since our inception in 1975, we have leveraged the strength and size of our membership, which includes a robust federation of transport and logistics related companies, to successfully help our members remain sustainable, competitive, developmental and to grow. Who are RFA Members? Road Freight Industry stakeholders such as Operators (trucking companies of various sizes, from owner-drivers to corporates), emerging logistics companies including SMMEs, students, various business owners, industry suppliers (suppliers of goods, materials, financial or insurance services) and research bodies, universities, consultants and brokers, trainers & SMME’s in that space. 

Through lobbying and negotiating, the RFA influences the state of the industry, levies charged by authorities, upkeep of the road infrastructure, road safety, freight security, driver interests, cross-border transport, education, health, the fuel price, law enforcement, labour relations and many other issues related to road freight transport. The RFA is committed to serving you. Our staff and team of experts bring a high degree of professional experience, knowledge and dedication to the association, which assists in the effectiveness of the RFA.

The perspective of our members relating to opportunities, threats and challenges is the foundation of what we use to interact with, educate and lobby various government authorities at national, provincial and local level, as well as the broader public, regarding the road freight logistic industry. THE RFA IS YOUR VOICE!

Benefits of being an RFA member

RFA Team

Gavin Kelly

Chief Executive Officer

Kevin vd Merwe

Executive Manager:

Certification & Operations

Charlene Hadzhiyski
Office Manager
Shantal Singh

Events Manager

Gloria Moepi

Membership Manager

Cisely Molete

Operations Officer

Dineo Molaba

Office Support Clerk

Gerhard Marais

Membership, SMME Support and VCI

Alene Candy

Membership Recruitment Agent

Dave Behrens

LRC, Labour Services and Council

Tony d'Almeida
Skills Development
Catherine Larkin

Public Relations

The Road Freight Association Core Code

To ensure that our members adhere to the highest standards of professionalism that protect the image, credibility and sustainability of the road freight industry, all members have to comply with the RFA Core Code. The Code sets out standards of professional practices that govern the members of The Road Freight Association.

1. Social and Environmental Commitment 

      • Comply with the laws of the Republic of South Africa and operate within the spirit of those laws.
      • Protect the environment, promote sustainable development and conduct business affairs that are socially responsible.
      • Make the most effective use of, and conserve, the natural resources of the Republic. 
      • Improve energy efficiency by monitor and reduce carbon emissions.
      • Dispose of waste in a responsible manner.
      • Support the values of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

2. Transport and Company Legislation

      • Comply with all relevant legislation relating to transportation on a public road.

3. Ethics and Governance 

      • Manage and conduct their affairs according to principles and values of good governance.
      • Maintain high standards of ethics, fairness and professionalism.
      • Act with integrity and deal fairly, honestly and responsibly with all customers and stakeholders.
      • Comply with all legislation relating to anti-competitive, professional service delivery, access to information and company registration

4. Vehicle Roadworthiness 

      • Ensure that vehicles remain in a roadworthy condition.
      • Maintain and implement policies and procedures for pre-trip inspections. 
      • Take corrective roadworthy action taken immediately.
      • Perform regular and preventative maintenance and servicing of vehicles and equipment.

5. Loads 

      • Ensure that the loads are safe and secure.
      • Ensure that loads do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and vehicle load masses.
      • Ensure special loads carry the necessary permits / documents.

6. Operating Efficiency 

      • Strive to maintain high standards of operational efficiency through the optimal use of resources, cost reductions and fuel efficiencies.

7. Employees  

      • Comply with all relevant labour legislation.
      • Provide continuous training and development to employees.
      • Provide for the welfare of all employees.

8. Drivers

      • Recruit professional and qualified drivers with valid licences and professional driving permits (PrDPs).
      • Ensure that drivers have the necessary competence, skills and experience to drive the vehicle and load assigned to them.
      • Continuously train and develop drivers to meet the needs of changing technology.
      • Facilitate corrective training for drivers to address risk and incident occurrence.
      • Adhere to driver hours and resting periods as prescribed.

9. Safety and Standards (RTQS)

      • Comply with the highest levels of safety and best practices relating to cargo transported.
      • Comply with all compulsory relevant SANS standards.
      • Ensure that all reflective material and lamps are in working condition.
      • Improve methods of spray and dust reduction to allow safer passing by other vehicles.
      • Develop programmes to progressively meet safety standards.

10. Commitment to the Association 

      • Respond to all complaints forwarded by the Association within 14 working days.
      • Conduct operations in a manner that will uphold the good standing and reputation of the Association.
      • Refrain from using an elected office within the RFA for personal gain.
      • Refrain from making public statements on behalf of the Association without the authority of the Chief Executive.
      • Refrain from representing the Association in any manner without the approval of the Chief Executive.
      • Refrain from bringing the Association into disrepute.
      • Support the Association in all its endeavours

RFA Consent in terms of the Protection of Information

POPI ACT

Dear RFA Member,

  1. The personal information which is processed by The Road Freight Association (“RFA”) in the course of your membership and your engagement of the RFA’s services fall within the ambit of the POPI Act.
  2. The purpose of this document is to obtain your consent to process your personal information.
  3. By your signature hereto, you confirm that you are aware of the fact that you are under no obligation to consent to the processing of your personal information by the RFA and that your consent relates only to the processing of your personal information pertaining to the matters stated herein.
  4. You also confirm that you understand that by failing and/or refusing to provide consent to the RFA, that the RFA will not be able to fulfil its obligations towards you or continue with the membership and service relationship, depending on the nature of the information to which you object, unless you grant your consent to process your personal information.
  5. For purposes of defining “personal information”, you are advised that such information may include your:
      • Full names, surname and identity number/passport details (for natural persons) and/or Company name/Close Corporation name/registration details and other details regarding the Company or Close Corporation;
      • Contact details, such as e-mail address, website address, postal address, landline and mobile contact numbers, geographic location;
      • Nationality and demographic information (natural persons);
      • Place of residence/place of business;
      • Employment details;
      • Bank account details;
      • All information relating to the requirements set out in the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 38 of 2001, as amended, with which the RFA is obliged to comply; and any other information requested by the RFA and voluntarily provided by you for purposes of performing the services in accordance with your mandate to the RFA

        Note: The member is to take note that certain demographic information is referred to as special personal information in terms of Section 26 of the POPI Act. There is a difference between personal information and special personal information. The RFA therefore processes both general and special personal information of its clients.

  1. Your personal information will only be processed for the purpose for which it was collected, and as agreed (“the services”), which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
      • Bulk emails to our membership database to inform members of events, notices, surveys, products, and services, vacancies, and available/requested loads.
      • Publishing of the member contact information on the RFA Member Directory listed on the RFA Website
      • Photographs taken at RFA Events and/or provided by RFA members may be published in newsletters, magazines and on social media
      • TruckTalk magazine and RFA Newsletters
      • Communication on RFA Whatsapp groups
      • In the performance of all other services in the interest of its members operating in the road freight and transport industry
  1. By signing this document, you agree to the RFA:
      • Processing your personal information for the purposes of rendering the services.
      • Recording, storing, updating, modifying, and retrieving your personal information for the purposes of rendering the services.
      • Collecting your personal information from a third party or source for the purposes of rendering the services.
      • To transmit your personal information to a third party in the Republic of South Africa for the purposes of rendering the services.
      • To transmit your personal information to a third party in a foreign country (who provides an adequate level of protection for the processing of personal information as referred to in Section 72 of the POPI Act) for the purposes of rendering the services.
      • Retain your personal information for the duration of the membership and service relationship and for such period after the termination of the business relationship as stipulated in the relevant legislation applicable to the RFA.
  1. By signing this document, you also confirm that you understand and agree to the following:
      • That you are obliged to inform the RFA of any correction or deletion of your personal information or destroying or deletion of any records of your personal information in terms of Section 24(1) of the POPI Act, by submitting Form 2 of the Regulations Relating to the POPI Act.
      • The contents hereof and accept this consent as adequate notification of the collection and processing of your personal information by the RFA.
      • The destruction or deletion of your personal information once the information is no longer required and the retention period required by legislation has lapsed. The RFA will shred any personal information/data of the member in accordance with the POPI Act in order to preserve the confidentiality of the information/data.
      • The consequences of failing and/or refusing to provide consent to the RFA and that the RFA will not be able to fulfil its obligations towards you or continue with the membership and service relationship, depending on the nature of the information to which you object, unless you grant your consent to process your personal information.
      • That you may withdraw your consent or object to the processing of your personal information at any time by giving written notification to the RFA’s POPI Information Officer Kevin van der Merwe at kevin@rfa.co.za and/or the RFA’s Deputy POPI Information Officer Gloria Moepi at membership@rfa.co.za.
      • That you are aware of your right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator, who’s contact details are as follows: