Van drivers rewarded for excellence
Chris Shenton of Asda and Alex Tilley of Moy Park have been named the Van Excellence Driver of the Year and Young Driver of the Year 2019.
Chris and Alex were pitted against 12 other finalists in the competition to complete of a set of challenging tasks which covered all areas of their roles, including legislation, driving skills, risk assessment, and vehicle defect identification.
Third place was presented to Luke Howarth of Alliance Healthcare and Daniel Mackenzie of Scottish Water secured second place.
The awards were sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Vans, following a rigorous assessment day at Bott Ltd’s facility in Ashby–de–la–Zouch, Leicestershire.
Mark Cartwright, head of vans at FTA, which administers the Van Excellence scheme, said, ‘From delivering our online shopping to keeping businesses and schools stocked with the vital materials they need, the essential services van drivers provide are often overlooked. These awards provide us the opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes of Britain: the dedicated and highly accomplished drivers keeping businesses of all sectors trading.
‘Van driving is a challenging task; it is both mentally and physically demanding. Drivers must draw from several skills sets on a daily basis, including time management, legislative knowledge, mechanical insight, technical driving skill, as well the ability to lift heavy goods and walk vast distances. It is vitally important that the complexity of their roles, as well as the value they provide, is recognised on a national level.
‘The aim of the Van Excellence scheme is to raise compliance levels across the industry, and each of today’s finalists has shown what can be achieved with determination and hard work. The very best van operators must be rewarded for their professionalism and high standards. We are honoured to have this platform to recognise and reward these talented individuals – they should all be very proud of their achievements.’
