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There’s precious little recognition for the truck drivers who ply the roads of the UK and Europe, delivering everything from the smallest tech component to the food and goods that stock the shelves of our supermarket giants. Which is fairly inequitable in the big scheme of things, as they’re the ones who quite literally keep the wheels of the economy moving. So if you’re a professional HGV driver, when something comes along that not only recognises the skills and dedication of your profession, but also rewards them, the words on your lips should be “count me in!” The Competition is On The Scania Driver Competition (SDC) invites truck drivers of all ages, experience and gender to throw their hats in the ring for the 2018-19 edition of the contest. If you do decide to enter, you’ll be in the running for a glittering €100,000 prize to go towards the new Scania lorry of your choice. Now that’s definitely a prize worth winning. Scania has been running a series of international events since 2003, when they instigated the first one in response to the European Commission’s directive to reduce the industry’s environmental impact by improving fuel consumption and increasing awareness around safety on the road. Due to the massive industry recognition of the company’s contribution through this prestigious contest, it has the wholehearted endorsement of the European Commission and has developed into the world’s largest lorry driving and training event. Since the competition’s inception in 2003, more than 350,000 truck drivers have participated in SDCs around the world – not only Europe. Need to Know If your interest is piqued and you think you’ve got the goods and the guts to pit yourself against truck drivers from more than 30 European countries, you’ll not only need to complete a comprehensive theory test, but you’ll also face a number of exercises and challenges in which you’ll be required to demonstrate the extent of your skills. The focus will be on three key areas: • Fuel economy • Safety • The environment The competition aims to find the ultimate driver who can prove themselves a Jedi master of all these skills, but they’re also looking to attract a new generation of potential drivers by raising the profile of the industry. In previous years the competition was only open to entrants under the age of 35, but for the 2018-19 edition it’s been opened up to people of any age and gender – no matter what make of lorry they drive at the moment. Of course, the desire to drive away in a brand new Scania truck would be a pretty great motivator. The Details Theory tests for the contest began in September, and practical tests for the UK national round will take place on March 31, 2019. The European final of the SDC will be held on May 25, 2019 in Sweden, at the home of Scania Trucks in Södertälje. For anyone interested in taking part (you know you want to!), the truck manufacturer’s website has all the details. Good luck and safe driving! Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Haulage Exchange provides services for matching truck drivers with available haulage jobs. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.
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