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THE NEW PRESIDENT
Page 47
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Vincent Caulfield has been elected president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) for the next two years. This will be his second term he first served in 2005-07.
It could hardly be a worse time to take over, with demand for transport services halved and stiff competition for every load. As a result, some operators are prepared to work at a low cost just to get business. The Roscommon tipperman's mission statement is simple: "Effective representation of the interests of our members is my priority." he says. "We'll do this via consultation with government departments and enforcement agencies."
He intends to develop a constructive working relationship with government and the Road Safety Authority, while promoting professionalism and excellence within the industry.
Last year, the IRHA moved into expansive new headquarters in Dublin, which has allowed the development of operator training. Courses have been run on fuel hedging (a practice whereby companies make advance purchases of fuel at a fixed price for future delivery in order to protect themselves against the shock of anticipated rises in the future); digital tachographs; employment law; Safe Pass; and the payment of international toll and fuel costs. "Members' briefing sessions and training courses will be a large part of the association's work going forward," says Caulfield. "We must communicate that there are so many benefits of being a member of this association."