PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION The purpose of this Qualification is to facilitate training and educational opportunities for individuals currently employed in the Southern African road Transport industry or those wishing to pursue a career in this industry. Individuals will have the opportunity to specialise in either freight or passenger related fields. The training will be applicable and appropriate to companies where transport is a primary or secondary function. The qualifying learner will obtain the relevant underpinning knowledge of road transport operations in order to apply this to all assigned functions. These core components of learning include knowledge of transport logistics operations, implementing of routing and scheduling, principles of road transport management, marketing strategies and decision making and problem solving to manage the transportation of passengers or freight that is applied in operating successfully in a road transport logistics environment. Rationale This Qualification has been designed as the second of three levels in road transport; to address the specific need as expressed by the road transport industry of South Africa. This Qualification serves as a progression from the National Certificate in Road Transport at NQF level 3 into the specialized area of road transport against the backdrop of the transport industry as a whole. It would serve to foster professionalism in the Southern African Road Transport industry and form the basis for further learning towards the National Certificate in Transport Management at NQF level 5. This Qualification provides the bridging opportunity for individuals wishing to pursue a career in road transport operations and management. It would also serve to formally recognize the experience gained by learners employed in the sector. This Qualification equips a learner for employment and/or career advancement opportunities within the Transport Industry of Southern Africa, as well as enables him/her to pursue more advanced levels of study in this specific field.