Nominees for the Young Australian Truck Driver of the Year award have been whittled down to 12
November 10, 2010
Nominees for the Young Australian Truck Driver of the Year have been whittled down to 12, and the remaining contenders will need to ply their trade to win the prize.
Trucking manufacturer Scania, which runs the award, has released the list of the finalists who will compete for the top gong on November 20 in Melbourne.
The twelve remaining contestants successfully completed a web-based knowledge test on driving and road and safety rules.
They will now be required to demonstrate their manoeuvring skills in a prime mover while pulling a trailer, with the best judged driver taking home $10,000 from Scania and a $4000 travel voucher from Castrol.
The winner will also receive a crystal glass trophy. The runner-up will get a trip for two to the Transport Hall of Fame event in Alice Springs.
Scania Australia Managing Director Roger McCarthy says the award is designed to highlight the professionalism of truck drivers and emphasise their importance to road safety and the profitability of transport companies.
“We also want to help attract more young capable drivers into the transport business” McCarthy says.
“The driver is undoubtedly the most important factor in heavy vehicle transport.”
The nominees competing for the prize include Richard Clarke, Nick Hornby, Rick Lockwood, Paul Newman and Jola Ramsay.
They will vie with Chris Cartwright, John Dorrington, Michael Fowler, Jarrad Jeffs, Daniel McGlade, Christopher Paciorek and Jonathan Thomas.
The first award was held in 2007 and is part of a global initiative by Scania to promote the industry. The Young European Truck Driver of the Year award began in 2003.