The Volvo Trucks Drivers’ Fuel Challenge is well under way, with state winners announced following remarkable fuel efficiency scores.
The six Volvo Trucks Fuel Challenge finalists were chosen through nation-wide analysis of the intuitive Volvo Dynafleet software’s driver scores. That’s right; this competition was open to every driver using the Dynafleet package!
With an overall aim to take transport into the future, the Dynafleet analysis scored drivers from 0-100 based on four key areas: speed adaptation; engine and gear utilisation; anticipation and braking; and standstill.
The finalists are some of the most efficient operators you’ll find down under, all of whom qualified by simply doing their day-to-day driving as they normally would – they weren’t babying their trucks and they were delivering loads on time!
The state winners are:
- NSW winner: Andrew Woodleigh, Borg Manufacturing. Andrew has been driving trucks for 22 years, starting in a rigid doing furniture removals and working up to a current B-double licence. He has worked for Borg Fleet Management from the Central Coast of NSW for the past 10 years.
- Victoria winner: Cameron Simpson, Simpsons Fuel. Cameron is a mechanic by trade; he cut his teeth on automotive work before heading to the West Australian goldfields to work as a heavy diesel fitter. He now drives for the family business, Alexandra-based fuel retailer Simpson Fuel.
- South Australia winner: David Kleinig, LH Perrys. David has been with Perrys Fuel Distributors for approximately 10 years. Most of his work is farm deliveries with the occasional service station top up as well. David operates a FM11 450 8×4 with a quad dog trailer behind. The combination he drives is a PBS unit operating up to 56.5 tonne GCM.
- Tasmania winner: Chris Scolyer, De Bruyns Transport. Chris started his driving career in 1976 when he was 18. Chris attributes his fuel efficient driving to 20 years of driving buses touring all over Australia – this is where he learnt to drive smoothly as all the passengers preferred a smooth ride. Since 2010 Chris has worked for De Bruyns Transport – he now drives a FM540 prime mover towing a b-double tautliner from Burnie to Hobart.
- Western Australia winner: Phil Vallance, Desert Sands Cartage. Phil drives for Desert Sands which delivers various materials to some of the remotest places in WA. He is based in Perth and delivers mainly fuel. Phil mostly drives a pocket road train and occasionally a triple if heading north of Kalgoorlie.
- Queensland winner: Andrew Print, TruckHaul. Andrew is the owner and driver of TruckHaul, which specialises in truck movements and is based out of the Port of Brisbane, travelling anywhere from Cairns to Perth. Andrew’s wife Lynda and dog Stella occasionally join him for a trip these days. Fuel economy has a high priority in Andrew’s business and he uses Dynafleet to check both his own and his drivers driving style and fuel usage.
The Volvo Trucks Drivers’ Fuel Challenge aims to push drivers and companies to constantly strive for improvement and efficiency, without sacrificing performance.
Based on the state winners, Volvo Trucks has certainly succeeded in achieving that.
The six state winners will compete, alongside dealer nominated and national fleet drivers, in a two-day semi-final and grand final to be held in Brisbane on July 20-21 – winners will then compete internationally at the finals in Gothenburg, Sweden.
For more on the Volvo Trucks Drivers’ Fuel Challenge keep your eye out for our upcoming profile and video of Victoria winner Cameron Simpson of Simpsons Fuel, out next week, and our live stream of the semi-final and final in late July!