Registration deadline looms large

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will make it mandatory for all operators to register their trailers by mid-May as part of a pilot project to be launched in Dubai before being rolled out across the country.
“Statistics show that 80 per cent of all the accidents on the UAE highways have been created by trailers,” says Alex Borg, Regional Director — Middle East, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). “The reason why this legislation is being enforced is therefore obvious.”
Ensuring the message is spread to leading industry players, the RTA will present its new legislation on monitoring trailers to Commercial Vehicles Middle East (CVME) Business Group members at a workshop to be held on day three of the 2012 CVME show, which starts today. “This is considered a pilot project in Dubai and later it is going to be picked up across the UAE,” says Borg.
Collective initiative
Last year Streamline Marketing, supported by the CILT, formed the business group consisting of major manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, service providers and end users from the road transport sector, to present a united front and build bridges between the region’s regulatory authorities and the private sector.
On Thursday, CVME Business Group members get the opportunity to take part in this workshop and learn about the new legislation. At the same time the interaction with industry leaders will allow the RTA and other bodies to collect feedback and make minor changes to the legislation if necessary.
“We listened to the members in terms of feedback and what they want and that’s why we linked up with the RTA,” she says.
Emirates Transport will also be running a seminar on its CNG (compressed natural gas) kits, in its continued attempt to win the industry over and convince them to become greener. “It’s a green initiative and is on the back-burner but needs to be pushed forward a little bit more. Emirates Transport is the leader in terms of a transport company that is actively seeking to implement this to their users,” says Alexandria Robinson, Project Manager of the CVME trade show, which kicks off at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre today.
Borg believes that the CVME Business Group, which includes representatives from Al Tayer Motors, Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co, Emirates Sky Cargo, 3M Gulf, DHL and Arabian Automobiles, was integral in helping the industry achieve objectives.
Membership of the group has now swelled to 500 according to Robinson, who adds, “The response has been absolutely fantastic since we launched this group in June 2011. It clearly showed us that there was a demand for something like this, as previously there was no industry specific group out there.”
Most of the group meetings are held in Dubai but influence the entire Middle East region. “Now that we have reached one year in operation we plan to identify the committee and membership. So far it has been a free service, to gauge the industry and get feedback. Since response has been very positive we can now offer a little bit more,” she says.
Members receive year-round updates and statistics, regular workshops and seminars, and knowledge sharing and networking events.
To register, email alex@commvehicles.com