Frequently Asked Questions
I’m concerned our campaign will become diluted during a transitional phase, when many of us are running out of time. How do you propose lobbying for us?
As part of our strategy of driving business on the road and supporting commercial vehicles, our lobbying teams are already on the ground and developing coach specific policy encompassing all commercial road users.
We are bus and coach operators, would you just be representing the coach sector only?
No, all commercial road users that drive business on our roads.
How do you plan to get the RHA coaching sector seen and recognised as an independent trade body within the Government for Lobbing and Policy making purposes for the future and what is the time line for this?
When our lobbing teams are engaged on specific coach issues, we will use the benefits of the RHA Coach specialist group to add support to drive policy.
How will you get the coaching voice heard in government via RHA over other trade bodies?
The RHA seeks not to talk over additional support but in fact, to use its voice to deliver for all members including coach operators.
How do you view the SME market of coach operators who are just as important?
79.9% of existing members operate less than 15 vehicles, so we truly represent the SME sector already.
Will there be an opportunity to develop a "coach marque" equivalent accreditation?
Yes.
When will you look to introduce regional managers and more localized events/meetings?
That structure of regionality already exists with national teams and events which will now encompass coaches as commercial road users.
How will you lobby government for us, and what can you do about PSVAR?
As one of the key issues for coach operators this will form a key part of our policy work.
What specific coach policy expertise do you currently have in place for new members wishing to join RHA?
The RHA has the current knowledge which will develop our policy strategy.
Will you be providing information on taking coaches into Europe?
Yes.
What is the cost going to be?
An introductory offer will reflect the challenges of the sector with prices confirmed in the coming weeks.
We want a trade organisation that will question and rebuff DfT legislation not just roll over and "advise" members how to conform, which type of stance do you intend to take? If it‘s the first option, do you have any examples of this within say the haulage sector that you’ve fought and won?
The RHA has stakeholder engagement at all levels of government to influence decision making, for example see Clean Air Zones withdrawal in five major cities and three currently engaged with potential changes. Please see our original webinar for more details.
Do you or can you audit members, to provide a benchmark report for quality and safety that can then be used to provide to operator’s perspective clients?
Yes.
We are a coach operator, about to start a lorry arm of the business.
We have memberships to cover both trucks and coaches but we recognise the challenges in the coach sector with will be reflected in our first year offer.
Will your memberships be based on Operator standards and abilities? For example, we cannot join the CPT as our family-owned small business can’t afford to have a fleet under 5 years old, so will you support those of us that have older fleets, lesser standards than the big firms?
Yes.
As a passenger transport company how would the RHA logo on our letterheads etc appear to show support to our customers as they will simply ask "Why the Road haulage Company" when we are people not haulage, would you change this to reflect our industry ?
Yes, The RHA has dropped the use of the Name The Road Haulage Association and transitioned to being known as the RHA.
If you are going to send the prices out to the operator why not just make it public ? I Think you will need to get away from the "Secret Prices Club"
We are happy to answer any queries and each query can be assessed.
Toggle TitleYou made reference to RHS Insurance in your presentation which I assume will be available to Coach Operator Members however what is the situation with regards to Coach operators who may join RHA Coach who run their own holiday programme who will have very specific and specialist insurance requirements especially with regards to compliance with the Package Travel & Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018?
We are actively exploring with service providers to be able to provide these services.
How many members and therefore much much revenue are you expecting to generate from the coach sector?
We have no expectation about member or revenue numbers, our focus is delivering support to this sector who drive business on our roads
In terms of membership pricing, will this be based on the number of vehicles and are there variations in vehicle size, e.g. minibus, large coach?
Year one is a bundled package to assist operators with year two onwards being a sliding scale per vehicle regardless of size.
Would you be willing to work with current operators trying for support and use your skills to open doors for the coach industry campaigns for sector support now?
Yes.
What specific experience of the coach sector is there within the RHA team now ? Secondly what level of coach experience in your team do you forsee being required?
We estimate that we are about 80% there in terms of knowledge now with a plan to have additional resource with four weeks to fill any void.
Will the handbook reflect the vagaries of coach operation? When will this happen?
Yes, Quarter two of 2021
One problem with the CPT is that we feel it‘s very London centric, what’s the powerbase for the RHA? And how will it deal with specific areas of the country?
We are represented in all the devolved nations and have on the ground representation at local level across all regions, so whilst head officed in Peterborough we are truly nationwide.
If our industry is still being severely affected by Covid-19 in April/May, what assurances can the RHA give operators that they will achieve better financial support that the current main trade body has failed to achieve?
We can’t offer and guarantee but assure you we will lobby and campaign with the same intensity that we do on all issues.
How many Coach Operators are you hoping with join?
There is no expectation but the investment we make is scalable to support
Many would argue that freezing fuel duty has hurt the coach industry, making it cheaper for private cars rather than getting on coaches. How would RHA reconcile that?
With the ever increasing focus on the green agenda we recognise that a study by the Department of Transport, in partnership with the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory found that coach travel has the least harmful environment impact of every mode of transport, excluding active travel. For example, a single journey from London to Edinburgh in a standard coach results in an average 9.2kg of CO2 emissions per passenger. In contrast, the very same journey would result in the following emissions per passenger:
• Plane – 96.4kg
• Car – 71kg
• Train – 11.9kg