April 2007

D R I V E R    T R A I N I N G

Tight maneuvers under pressure separate the men from the boys at the Gerotek-based Scania 2005 Driver of the Year finals.     Taking home the bounty – 2005 Scania Driver of the Year, Paulus Muller being congratulated by Leif Östling, Scania president and CEO, and Scania SA managing director, Ulf Grevesmühl (left)."

All efforts to uplift the status of truck drivers should be embraced. Ongoing driver training is part of the process of making trucks safer and more economical, with many operators rewarding their drivers for efficiency improvements. Another method of inspiring drivers to perform better is to put a luxury car up for grabs in a 'Driver of the Year' competition, as has Scania Southern Africa, reports Paul Collings

The primary aim of the competition is to promote road safety, says Scania's marketing director, Gideon de Swardt. "The Scania Driver of the Year Competition is a global event with Scania drivers on all continents pitting their skills against region-specific criteria. This is Scania Southern Africa's second competition; the first took place in 2005."

The test criteria for the local competition are based on the K53 system, licence Code EC driver's test. "After completing a theoretical multiple choice test covering road safety, road rules and signage questions, entrants then complete a 10km road circuit with a fully-laden trailer in differing road conditions," says de Swardt. "The driver also has to talk to the adjudicator in the cab, essentially verbalising his thought processes, explaining how he makes safety an integral part of his driving technique."

The 2007 Scania Southern Africa Driver of the year Competition will be a nation-wide event with test officials traveling to the operators' areas should the contestant numbers warrant it, says de Swardt. "We understand that these guys have a job to do, so we don't want to take up too much of their time."

Regional winners will compete for a Volkswagen Polo at the finals to be held at Gerotek towards the end of the year where they will negotiate an obstacle course and execute demanding work situations like reverse parking into a narrow bay. "Scania Southern Africa has a strong skills development programme that ensures a steady stream of drivers and technicians to the industry. This competition is not only a means of promoting safer driving but also brings much needed recognition to the profession," concludes de Swardt.