Entries are open for 2020 Microlise Driver of the Year award

Data has started to be analysed in the search for the best truck driver in the UK, who will be awarded the Driver of the Year award 2020 by Microlise.

The awards are now in its sixth year, and the shortlist is generated by a year’s worth of Microlise telematics data, revealing the most talented short, medium and long-distance drivers.

The winners will be announced at the Microlise Transport Conference on May 20, 2020.

Over 225,000 drivers will be analysed, and company, contract and driver personal identification information will be removed, to ensure the search is as fair as possible.

Bob Harbey, executive director at Microlise, said: “These are the most comprehensive awards for drivers of heavy commercial vehicles.

“Our data science team uses the latest technology to evaluate data from hundreds of thousands of anonymous drivers, to help us to understand who the country’s best driver is.

“This is one of our favourite projects in the year as it allows us to recognise and celebrate the tremendous contribution drivers make to the transport industry and to our economy as a whole.”

Bibby Distribution’s Mark Field won the 2019 Driver of the Year award and won the short distance category.

Five additional nomination-based categories – Young Driver, Most Improved, Lifetime Achievement, HGV Hero and Extra Mile are also open to the entire HGV community, regardless of whether Microlise telematics technology is used.

Drivers and fleet managers are encouraged to nominate their colleagues, which lead to Microlise further investigating their worthiness of winning the award.

Chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, Richard Burnett, editor of Motor Transport, Steve Hobson, and retired traffic commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken will be among this year’s judges.

Nominations can be made at the Microlise Driver of the Year Award website by 14 February 14, 2020.