What’s challenging for you? Andreas Söderström, winner of Young European Truck Driver 2010, often reverses his truck between gate posts with only centimetre margins on either side.

“Planning and calmness are important characteristics for anyone who wants to win a driver competition,” says Andreas Söderström, the 2010 Young European Truck Driver champion.

Precision manoeuvring in the daily work

With only centimetres left on each side of the vehicle, Andreas Söderström quickly reverses his huge Scania truck between two stone pillars for a delivery of gravel.

“When it’s really tight it’s better to reverse than to drive forward. I keep an eye on the rear lamps with the rear view mirrors,” he says.

Together with his father, Söderström runs the transport company Göran Söderströms Åkeri in Ingelstad, Sweden. The company fleet consists of four trucks that mainly transport asphalt, gravel and woodchips.

Different challenges

No job is exactly the same. Some mornings Söderström begins his day at an asphalt plant, others in a gravel pit, and others still begin with him taking containers close to felled forests and then transporting woodchips to pulp factories or power and heating plants.

Transporting woodchips on narrow forest roads instilled in Söderström the importance of planning his driving. Forest driving can be unforgiving, and with no help for kilometres; there is no room for mistakes.

“I usually start my work day at five or six o’clock in the morning and don’t return home until between four and seven o’clock in the evening,” he says.

When Söderström signed up for the competition in 2010 he didn’t know much about it, and had almost no experience driving a truck with a semi-trailer. Still he managed to advance from the regional final to win the Swedish final and ultimately the European final.

“The toughest moment in the competition came when I was reversing and trying to stop the vehicle no more than 20 centimetres from a wall,” he says. “In those types of situations it’s extremely important to use the rear view mirrors.”

Grew with the mission

Söderström’s improbable run began with some apprehension, but by applying his maxim of planning and calmness he forged onwards, finally ending up with the championship and a 100,000 euro gift certificate which he promptly converted into a new Scania R 620.

“The truck came in very handy as we had planned to replace a three-axle truck with a new four-axle to cope with the requirements of our big asphalt customer,” Söderström explains.

“If I hadn’t won, I probably would have bought a Scania R 560. Now, with the R 620, I have access to 60 extra horsepower. I didn’t go for an automated gearbox, however, since I have better control over my driving with a manual one,” he says.

Tight margins are not a problem when you know what you’re doing. Skilled drivers have a good chance of making it to the Young European Truck Driver 2012 final to compete for a Scania truck worth 100,000 euros. Andreas Söderström did in 2010. Is 2012 your year?

Söderström also selected winter tyres from Michelin for his new truck, the optimal choice for grip and durability. He’ll use them all year, at least to start with.

Encouraging other drivers

More topically, he has just signed up for this year’s driver competitions.
“The victory has led to much attention and that has been fun,” says Söderström.

Even if he doesn’t win a truck this year, putting one’s skills up against other top drivers in the field is a stimulating experience.

Read more and register below

In November the Tanzania Driver Competition produced a winner: Erasmus Mtui, a 43-year-old driver from petroleum haulage company Super Star Forwarders. The newly crowned Tanzanian Driver of the Year 2011 will go on to compete in the international finals in South Africa in 2012. “I’m ready,” he says.

Mtui’s family was thrilled and proud, and also a little shocked. The prize – 5 million shillings (2,375 euros) – is a lot of money for the family.

Scania is well known in Tanzania – so much so that the brand has become synonymous with the word “truck”.

“Scania Tanzania is very pleased and excited to host the Tanzanian Driver of the Year competition,” Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Scania Tanzania, told the gathering at the November competition, which took place at the Biafra Grounds in Dar es Salaam. “The driver is the most important factor in influencing transport economy, environment and road safety.”

Cameron expressed his respect for the competitors’ skills and invited all Tanzanian drivers in the country to the 2013 Tanzanian Driver of the Year competition, which is already being planned. The ambition is to create a larger event that includes professional truck and bus drivers from all over Tanzania.

Also addressing the crowd were Lennarth Hjelmåker, Sweden’s Ambassador to Tanzania; Seif A Seif, Chairman of the Tanzanian Truck Owners Association; and Mohamed Mpinga, Traffic Police Commander.

The November competition in Dar es Salaam was the grand finale involving the top five contestants from an earlier event where drivers were tested on their driving skills, road safety awareness and driving style for optimising fuel economy. For the finals, the five competitors were required to perform such tasks as “Knock the King”, “Slalom” and “Bull’s Eye” for the large and enthusiastic crowd of spectators.

Do you want to attend Scania Driver Competitions 2012? Register now!

1. Raise the seat to a comfortable position. To sit correctly, you should have an upright seating position.

2. Tip the seat forward. This increases the chance of an upright position.

3.Tilt the backrest backward so that the hip angle is at 100 to 110 degrees. This means that the centre of gravity of the body is closer to the spine, which relieves the load on the discs and spinal joints and reduces the load on the hip joints.

4. Set the lumbar support so that it follows the shape of your back.

5. Adjust the seat to a fist’s width away from the back of your knees.

6. Move the entire seat to a position where you can press down the pedals fully without straining.

7. With the adjustable steering column position, adjust the steering wheel so it’s as close as possible to your body. This reduces the forward torsion on your body, relieving the load on your back and neck.

Be sure to register for Scania Driver Competition 2012

What is new in this fifth round of competitions?

What lessons have you learned from previous competitions?
“That we are on the right path. Many drivers come back and compete year after year, and in addition the number of contestants has gradually increased. Some of our coordinators out in the markets have also participated several times. Their enthusiasm is contagious, which is one reason why more markets want to join the competitions.”

Scania Driver Competitions is the largest and most demanding truck driver competition in the world. More than 55,000 drivers from across 39 countries are expected to compete to be declared the best truck drivers in Scania Driver Competitions 2012.

Read more and register below

According to WHO’s official statistics, nearly 100,000 people in China were killed in traffic accidents during 2009. Millions of others were hurt, and many suffered injuries that will affect them for life. Although the annual fatality rate has declined in recent years, the figures are still very high, due in part to overloaded trucks and poorly trained professional drivers.

“The biggest problem is that the authorities have not regulated drivers’ working hours,” says Mats Harborn, executive director of the Scania China Strategy Office. “Many serious accidents here in China occur because drivers have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

“Chinese authorities are making major investments aimed at improving road safety,” he explains. “But infrastructure issues are handled by several different decision-making bodies and unfortunately there is too little coordination between them.”

Scania Driver Competitions promote road safety
In keeping with Scania’s concept, Scania China focuses on the impact of drivers on transport economy, the environment and road safety. One step that Scania China has taken to help improve road safety has been to lower the comfort temperature in Scania’s truck cabs. A slightly lower temperature in the cab reduces the risk that a driver will fall asleep at the wheel.

In October 2010, Scania carried out its first-ever driver competitions in China, which attracted great attention. The purpose was to boost the status of drivers and generate greater interest in road safety issues among Chinese authorities, the transport industry and the public.

The national final took place late in October 2010 in Hangzhou, about 180 kilometres south-west of Shanghai. Zhong Weiping, editor of Commercial Motor World, one of China’s leading automotive magazines, was impressed by Scania’s focus on drivers.

“Scania’s view that the driver is the master of his truck is both exciting and much-needed here in China,” he says. “No other organisation is working to increase the professional skills of drivers, and I hope that Scania’s driver competitions will be an inspiration for further efforts.”

4 trends in China’s transport sector:

1. The motorway network is expanding.
2. There are stricter inspections to prevent overloaded trucks.
3. Fuel economy is becoming more and more important.
4. Private transport companies are increasingly demanding premium vehicles.

Source: Zheng Jing Fang, owner, Huzhou Xinda International Logistics

 A caring future giant

With highly skilled drivers and Scania vehicles, Zheng Jing Fang intends to take a big step forward to become one of China’s logistics giants.

Zheng Jing Fang, owner, Huzhou Xinda International Logistics

Huzhou Xinda International Logistics, headquartered a few dozen kilometres west of Shanghai, will assume a leading position in China in the next few years if the company’s owner, Zheng Jing Fang, gets his way. With its own harbour in the middle of the Yangtze River delta and several strategically important motorways nearby, Huzhou Xinda is well situated for success.

“To achieve our goal, we must take such concepts as quality and efficiency to a completely new level for China,” Zheng says. “With imported premium vehicles and better driver conditions than the rest of the industry, we can recruit and retain the best drivers. Too few transport companies have realised that it pays to invest in drivers here in China.”

Like so many other private hauliers, Zheng started his business under simple conditions, by hauling asparagus in a Jiefang Liberation, a small domestic truck. As the economy grew, he expanded his fleet and his business into what it is today, with imported Scania tractor units.

He now plans to seriously challenge the biggest logistics companies in China, which includes plans for building many new logistics centres around the country.

“Companies that don’t keep up with developments will disappear,” Zheng says.

This is where drivers enter the picture. The success of a haulier is determined behind the wheel.

“Skilled drivers may soon be completely crucial to revenue, which in turn requires a completely different management style,” he continues. “If you want to retain highly skilled drivers, you can’t treat them the way they are often treated today.”

Andreas Söderström's vehicle, a purple painted Scania R 620, was delivered with a five-year maintenance and repair contract and included insurance coverage for one year from Scania.

When Andreas Söderström took possession of his Young European Truck Driver prize, there was an air of familiarity. In fact, Söderström assisted in the production of the truck when he visited the chassis assembly in Södertälje in March.

“Not that many people have the opportunity to assist in lifting the cab in place on the chassis of their new truck,” says Söderström.

The vehicle, a purple painted Scania R 620, was delivered with a five-year maintenance and repair contract and included insurance coverage for one year from Scania.

After acquiring the vehicle it was put into operation almost immediately, assisting in asphalt work close to Söderström’s home.

“We had to ensure that the platform opening system worked properly with the new hook loader.”

A turbulent time
“The period following the YETD final was overwhelming but fun,” says Söderström. “To stand there be appointed the best truck driver in Europe was great. It was a great feeling to go back home with one of the competition vehicles.

“The period following the YETD final was overwhelming but fun,” says Söderström.

I was out on the road delivering asphalt immediately after that thrilling weekend. That’s how it is running your own company: full speed all the time.”

The new vehicle comes in handy at the company Söderström runs with his father Göran. Since the contest, Andreas has been a partner in the family business.

“It felt like the right time and he has really shown he knows the business,” says Göran.

With Scania Driver Competitions and Young European Truck Driver for 2012 currently in the planning, it’ll soon be time again to appoint the world’s best drivers of heavy vehicles.

The YETD 2010 winner Andreas Söderström takes part in building his own prize - a brand new Scania R-series truck. Click on the image to read more about the truck being built.

To date, more than 100,000 truck drivers from all over the world have participated in Scania Driver Competitions, making it the world’s largest truck driver competition and training event. The fifth edition, planned for 2012, will be organised in more than 40 countries.

Fuel economy, road safety and maneuvering tests as well as knowledge about securing cargo are just a few of the things drivers will have to master to be successful at Scania Driver Competitions 2012.

“Scania Driver Competitions’ goal is to increase the interest in, and subsequently attract more people to, a profession that in recent years has become highly demanding,” says Erik Ljungberg, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, Scania.

By participating in the high-profile Scania Driver Competitions, drivers focus on enhancing their driving skills. Consequently, road safety increases and the environmental impact caused by hauling is reduced. This latter point will be crucial in the near future as transport volumes are likely to increase.

“Scania wants to be a part of the solution to increase road safety and decrease the transport industry’s environmental impact,” Ljungberg says. “Scania Driver Competitions focuses on the single most important factor to meet these challenges: the driver.”

According to the European Parliament study “Shortage of Qualified Personnel in Road Freight Transport”, skilled drivers will be in high demand over the next few years. In 2008, the shortage of drivers in Europe was estimated at 70,000. The study suggests a set of measures to address the shortage, such as improving the image of the sector and improving driver skills and qualifications.

The quest for the world’s best heavy truck driver begins in December this year when applicants from all over the world will be invited to register for the Scania Driver Competitions 2012.

Winner of YETD 2010 Andreas Söderström and his father Göran visit Scania chassis assembly.

In October 2010, Andreas Söderström of Sweden won the Young European Truck Driver competition and thereby became Europe’s best truck driver. His first prize was a totally new Scania truck, which he himself could specify.

Söderström was present when the truck was manufactured at the Scania production unit in Södertälje.

“It will be the most powerful V8 you can get with a manual gearbox, an R-series truck with a 620 hp engine,” said Söderström. The truck will be used in his family’s haulage company to transport gravel, chips and asphalt.

Under the supervision of production employees, he was allowed to place the cab on the chassis himself. 

Winner of YETD 2010 Andreas Söderström places the cab on the chassis.

“It feels strange and exciting to see your own truck being manufactured,” said Söderström who took the opportunity to autograph the bottom of the cab before it was lowered into place.

The truck will now continue to bodybuilders and painters to be finished into a complete skip-loader before it can begin to be used in day-to-day work.

“We’ll see whether we sell off the truck Andreas drives today or whether we can expand our business,” said his father Göran Söderström, who owns the haulage company. “We haven’t really decided yet.”

Winner of YETD 2010 Andreas Söderström. Now the the quest for the world's best truck driver 2012 has begun. Click the picture to find out more.

The 26-year-old from Perth outperformed 11 other national finalists in the 2010 Scania Young Australian Truck Driving Competition, in a program testing on-road driving skills, manoeuvring skills, knowledge of road rules, driver attitude and ability to be an industry role model, at Flemington Racecourse on 20 November.

Rick Lockwood is Australia’s Best Young Truck Driver 2010.

The drivers, all under 40, were awarded for demonstrating superior knowledge, good judgement in traffic and fuel-efficient driving skills, with a focus on calm and safe driving over speed.

Winner Rock Lockwood scored 18,200 out of a possible 25,000 points and was presented with AUD 10,000 and a Castrol AUD 4,000 travel voucher.

Runner-up was Nick Hornby of Darwin, Northern Territory, and third Jarrad Jeffs of Melbourne, Victoria.

The 2010 Scania Young Australian Truck Driving Competition tested on-road driving skills, manoeuvring skills, knowledge of road rules, driver attitude and ability to be an industry role model.

Scania Australia Managing Director Roger McCarthy said Lockwood proved he had the right skills and attitude to be named Australia’s Best Young Truck Driver.

“Lockwood is an all-rounder with exceptional knowledge of what it takes to be a professional driver and is someone who can be an ambassador for young people in our industry by sharing his dedication and professional approach to his work,” Mr McCarthy said.

Lockwood who first began driving in 2000 said: “It is quite unbelievable. It is very special to receive recognition in an industry which does not give it to very many people.

“I hope I can use my position to help educate young people especially 16 and 17 year olds about trucks and how to behave around them and support them to be recruited into the industry”.
Lockwood, who turns 27 next month, first began driving in Tamworth, New South Wales, moving race horses with his father from Sydney to Port Macquarie.

“I would not be here today if it was not for Jim Pearson Transport who gave me my first break; especially Paul Jones and Jim Pearson Junior.

“Now I’m looking forward to starting my own business one day, but for the short term it is back to Perth and heading to Port Hedland next week”.

Lockwood said he may use some of the prize money to visit his wife Amy’s homeland, Ireland. “But first it is to absorb what I have achieved”.

First held in Australia in 2007, the Scania Young Australian Truck Driving is affiliated with the worldwide Scania Driver competition, which has been taking place in 28 countries throughout 2010 and is expected to attract around 45,000 entrants, making it the largest of its kind. More than 400 entered the Australian competition.

The 2010 Scania Young Australian Truck Driving Competition took place at Flemington Racecourse on 20 November.

“The competition plays an important part in highlighting best driving practises which will translate to safer driving and improved road safety conditions for all road users,” Mr McCarthy said.

“These continue as challenging times for the Australian transport industry. There is uncertainty in the market, a changing political environment, potential for rising fuel costs, increasingly congested driving conditions and ongoing environmental concerns.

“That is why the Scania YATD 2010 competition is firmly focused on promoting road safety at the highest level and economical driving.”

The Scania Driver Competitions Argentinean final took place in the Tigre tourist resort outside Buenos Aires. Seven drivers competed for the title Mejor Conductor de Camiones de Argentina 2010. All in all more than 3,400 drivers signed up for the competition, which culminated in this event.

A winner’s smile. Guillermo Suarez, 30, was named “best truck driver in Argentina”.

The seven finalists each turns to drive the combination track. Eventually, Guillermo Suarez, 30, from Patagonian Trelew, turned in the best performance. This was his first entry in Scania Driver Competitions, although he has driven a truck professionally for the past 10 years.

Suarez drives a Scania G420 long haulage truck equipped with Opticruise. He uses a refrigerated vehicle to deliver meat in southern Argentina, from Trelew down through Patagonia, a 3,600-kilometre return trip. Sur-Aike, the transport company Suarez works for, has eight trucks in its fleet. Seven are Scania.

More than 50 journalists from some 40 media companies covered the final, showing a particular interest in Scania Driver Training.

In addition to the thrilling competition, the 300 spectators to the event were able to take a close look at the first Scania truck built in Argentina.

Results from Argentina
1: Guillermo Suarez, Trelew
2: Anibal Munoz, Buenos Aires
3: Gustavo Manzo, Mendoza

Fun on the podium. Three skilled drivers shared the podium after the Argentinean final.

In action. A winner not only has to know how to handle a truck; he also has to be able to run.