Richard Fry, director and general manager of Frampton Transport Services, has been elected as national chairman of the RHA, replacing ABE (Ledbury)'s MD Andy Boyle.
Boyle has been chairman since June 2008 and Fry thanks him for leading the RHA through a very difficult time.
Fry describes the appointment as a "tremendous honour" and claims he has "a hard act to follow".
"I am under no illusion that this is going to be an easy ride. New regulations, changes to the current legislation, soaring fuel prices, these are just a few of the obstacles thrown at us on what seems like a daily basis. But I, together with my fellow Board members and dedicated RHA staff, will ensure that the voice of the UK haulier will always be heard."