Steven Sutherland speaking slot
The Road Freight Association (RFA) celebrated a monumental milestone this year – 50 years of advancing and advocating for the trucking industry in South Africa.
The RFA Convention 2025, held at the Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg from 23 to 25 May, brought together over 250 logistics leaders, operators, policymakers, and innovators to celebrate the past and shape the future.
This year’s convention served not only as a celebration of the RFA’s legacy but also as a crucial platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities shaping the road freight sector.
South Africa’s economy is heavily reliant on road transport, with over 80% of inland freight being moved by road, the convention carried significant importance for businesses and communities alike.
About the RFA: A Legacy of Leadership in Transport
For five decades, the Road Freight Association has been pivotal in advocating for fair regulation, improved road infrastructure, and better safety standards across South Africa’s vast freight network.
Acting as a unifying voice for the industry, the RFA works tirelessly to promote professionalism, policy alignment, and sustainability in the transport sector.
From engaging with government on legislation to providing training and support for small fleet operators, the RFA has consistently been at the forefront of the nation’s freight agenda and the 2025 convention highlighted just how far the association has come in shaping one of the country’s most essential industries.
Powerfleet: Driving the Conversation on AI and Road Safety
As a key sponsor of this landmark event, Powerfleet iN Africa proudly participated in both the core conference sessions and the highly anticipated Golf Day — a tradition that blended celebration with valuable networking.
Taking centre stage during the conference, Steven Sutherland, General Manager Enterprise at Powerfleet Africa, delivered an eye-opening session titled:
“AI on the Move: Tackling Driver Fatigue & Enhancing Safety in Transport.”
In his talk, Sutherland tackled one of the most pressing challenges in the industry today – the safety of drivers on increasingly demanding routes.
Driver fatigue and distraction remain two of the top causes of serious road incidents, affecting not only drivers’ well-being but also operational efficiency and public safety.
Sutherland introduced the audience to Powerfleet’s cutting-edge Vision AI and SafeGuard solutions – designed to monitor driver behaviour and road conditions in real time while building comprehensive risk profiles of drivers over time to proactively reduce the risk of incidents.
These AI-powered systems use facial recognition, blink detection, and in-cabin monitoring to spot early signs of fatigue or distraction, enabling immediate intervention.
“AI is not here to replace the driver,” said Sutherland, “It’s here to protect them. We are empowering fleet operators to build a culture of safety — one where technology acts as a guardian on every journey.”
His session sparked robust dialogue among attendees, many of whom are actively looking for ways to incorporate digital safety tools into their operations, especially amid rising accident rates and increasing demand for compliance and accountability.
Celebrating the Past, Accelerating the Future
The RFA Convention 2025 was a powerful reminder of the trucking industry’s indispensable role in South Africa’s economic growth.
As technology, compliance, and sustainability become core themes, the road freight sector is entering a new era— and Powerfleet is proud to partner with the RFA and industry peers to help drive this transformation.
As this landmark event concludes, one thing is clear: the road freight industry is not only honouring its legacy — it is boldly accelerating into the future.
