Calling out to Malaysia / Singapore's best truck and bus drivers..!

The commitment to improved road safety is part of Scania’s heritage, strategy and brand image, and this approach is implemented wherever Scania operates throughout the world. And as part of Scania’s incentive towards improved road safety, Scania is organizing the inaugural Scania Driver Competitions 2007.

The competition, covering both Malaysian and Singaporean drivers, is one of over 30 competitions worldwide which started in 2003 with the Young European Truck Driver (YETD) competitions.  Today, the competitions have grown into a global event that covers Europe, Australia, South America and Africa.

The competition in Malaysia / Singapore will be the first of its kind in Asia, and will also for the first time includes a parallel competition for bus drivers.

The competition will run throughout July and August 2007 and ends with the national finals on19 August 2007at the Scania Malaysia HQ complex in Bukit Jelutong.  Application forms together with a theoretical entrance test will be sent out during the first week of July with the following deadlines:

Throughout July 2007 :           Distribution of application forms (with accompanying Theory Test 1)

23 July 2007 :                              Submission dateline for applications + Theory Test 1

1 August 2007 :                           Finalists identified – 8 truck drivers & 8 bus drivers

19 August 2007 :                        National Finals in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam

All questions and tests are designed to identify the best driver overall in terms of skills, maturity and levels of safety awareness.   The national finals on the 19 August 2007 will see drivers undergo a series of maneuvering tests, a road test to check on safe & defensive driving, and economical driving; and a theoretical test.

One of the reasons for organizing such an event is to promote road safety amongst drivers of heavy vehicle, and to raise the level or status of the profession.  “Driving a truck or a bus requires skills and patience, and drivers should be seen as professionals,” says Ho Hee Hean, Marketing Communications Manager for Scania in South East Asia.  “Building a safe vehicle is not the only solution towards road safety.  Scania realizes that the driver also plays a pivotal role in ensuring these vehicles are properly driven and achieve the levels of performance it was intended to, especially in terms of fuel consumption and reliability.”

A better driver also has the additional benefits of cost savings in terms of reduced maintenance and repair costs, and less fuel consumption;

“A safe vehicle in the hands of a well trained and skilled driver will results infewer accidents and reduced fuel consumption; in short, improved total economy. The driver is the single most important factor for economy, environment and safety.”

The Road Safety Council of Malaysia is fully supportive of this event, and Scania is offering RM 86,000 / S$ 37,000 worth of cash and prizes for top drivers and their fleet owners.

For more information on the competitions, please contact your Scania representative or the Scania Driver Competitions committee (Tel: +603 7845 1000).