Founded back in 1985 by Angelo Rea, Rea Trasporti is a historic company from Campania, now in its second generation, highly specialised in the field of industrial and medical gases, i.e. in the transport of liquefied and compressed gases, both in tanks and in packages, all goods belonging to ADR class 2 destined for the iron and steel, chemical, electronic, food and life sciences sectors. Raffaele Rea, the current CEO, reveals the secret behind the success of this all-Italian excellence.
by Roberta Imbimbo
Dr Rea, what was the mission of the company founded by your father 37 years ago? Tell us the story of this all-Italian excellence.
The story of Rea Trasporti began 37 years ago, in 1985 to be precise, when Angelo Rea decided to set up his own business in the world of transport. Thanks to my father’s cultural background and, above all, thanks to his strategic vision, which over time has proved to be rewarding, the foundations were laid for a leading company that still retains, after so many years of honourable activity, the same ethical values as when it was established. After obtaining a diploma in business management, I began a long apprenticeship in the company, initially driving the first vehicles and then, after no less than 13 years in the driver’s cab, dealing with administration and customer relations, flanked by my brother-in-law Pasquale, a very important professional figure. And thanks to the experience and professionalism gained over so many years, Rea Trasporti is today a highly specialised company in the field of industrial and medical gases, in the transport of liquefied and compressed gases, both in tanks and in packages; an all-Italian excellence capable of offering a qualified and reliable service in a particularly complex and articulated sector that imposes high safety standards, in order to protect and safeguard the integrity of the chemical products transported and the safety of employees who come into contact with these dangerous goods.
What kind of market is it in which you operate? What peculiarities distinguish you from your competitors?
Rea Trasporti has succeeded in asserting its leadership in a highly competitive market dominated by a large number of well-structured players, enlarging its customer base year after year and also expanding its range of operations to foreign markets, particularly Germany, Spain, and France. Customer loyalty and maximisation of customer satisfaction by paying the utmost attention to the quality of the services offered, constant investment in training and refresher courses to maintain high standards of safety and innovation that allow us to be a reliable and qualified partner for our own customers: these are the distinctive traits of a reality that today has several operating units located throughout the national territory, from Sicily to Lombardy, with various points including Bari and San Salvo for the Adriatic area, Casalnuovo di Napoli where the registered office is also located, Pompei and Anagni for Central Italy, and finally Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto with car parks in Cernusco sul Naviglio, Novara and Sant’Ambrogio in Valpolicella (VR). Another distinguishing trait of ours, which clearly differentiates us from the numerous market players, is a fleet of the latest generation vehicles: in 2019 we have in fact completely renewed our vehicle fleet with Euro 6 vehicles, also including three road tractors fuelled by liquid methane, the famous LNG, with the priority objective of significantly reducing CO2 emissions and thus contributing to the creation of an increasingly eco-friendly future.
What operational limitations do you find in your business?
The main one is certainly the shortage of drivers. According to a recent report by Transport Intelligence, there are currently about 400,000 missing in Europe, 20,000 in Italy alone, where, among other things, the rigidity of generational turnover could have a major impact on these figures in a rather short space of time. It is undeniable that the haulier’s job is demanding and requires major sacrifices. It is equally undeniable that it is a professional figure of fundamental importance in our country’s economy, but one that receives little consideration, even more so at a time when a young person’s aspirations are certainly not oriented towards this sector. Rea Trasporti has therefore decided to invest considerable resources to increase its brand reputation in its target market, to make itself attractive in the eyes of young people, encouraging them to approach this world at this crucial time of transition. All we ask of our employees is seriousness, loyalty and a proactive spirit. Rea Trasporti takes care of the rest, guaranteeing training and qualifications, from the licences necessary to carry out the activity to the use of hydraulic booms and the necessary experience that must be gained on a heavy truck, through the use of 5 in-house master drivers, who accompany the person until he or she is ready to operate independently. With the Transport Academy project, the company therefore aims to hire even inexperienced collaborators in order to train them adequately so that they are able to carry out a delicate job such as manoeuvring heavy goods vehicles and technical gases to the best of their ability, thus demonstrating that it is a state-of-the-art company in terms of safety at work at every level.
So many achievements to date. Future goals?
To increasingly solidify our position in the market through an innovative business approach and corporate mentality. Many ideas are boiling in the pot for the near future, such as the development of an App to further streamline all those processes that are stagnating between those who work in the field and those who are in charge of controlling and managing activities.
Home
