Who will claim the title of the world’s best all-round truck driver? This was the question asked at the world final of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2018, that took place in Gothenburg from 13-14 September. This year’s competition involved more challenges than ever before, attracting professional drivers from 33 countries. The winner was Piotr Krahel from Poland, while the second and third places were bagged by Bert Johansson of Sweden, and Simo Laukkanen of Finland, respectively.
“The Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge brings together all the different challenges that truck drivers face every day. Their skills are often the decisive factor in the productivity and profitability of our customers. Drivers also make a major contribution to road safety. The final gave us the opportunity to see incredibly skillful drivers doing an impressive job of handling their trucks,” said Maria Bergving, SVP brand, marketing, and communication at Volvo Trucks.
The competition took place for the sixth time and this year it focussed on three areas: fuel efficiency, productivity, and safety.
Bergving added: “The drivers competing for the title achieved excellent performances in each area. They showed that it is possible to have a highly fuel-efficient driving style, deliver a fragile load quickly in good condition and, at the same time, follow the road safety regulations to the letter.”
It was the first time that drivers from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia participated in the World Finals, after winning the local competitions in their respective countries.
The aim of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is to draw attention to the important work done by truck drivers. It is also a way of attracting young people to the job, which offers good career opportunities. The logistics and transport industry is constantly growing, but there is now a shortage of trained drivers all over the world.
Lene Larsen, Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge project manager, explained: “To help our customers to recruit and retain skilled drivers, we have been focussing for many years on the design of the driver’s environment and the drivability of our trucks.
“Driver support systems, which make it easier for drivers to maneuver trucks safely, and driver training covering everything from handling trucks to a fuel-efficient driving style, are other examples of how we help drivers to do a first-class job and to grow and develop.”
Winner Piotr Krahel remarked: “Winning the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is a big achievement for me! The final was really tough and I was up against a lot of very experienced drivers. I’m impressed that Volvo Trucks stages this motivational event which attracts so many drivers from all over the world.” 
Facts about Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge
- The competition has been held every two years since
- This year’s competition involved more than 12,000 drivers. A total of 33 qualified to the world
- The final was held at the Volvo Trucks Experience Center in Gothenburg, from 13-14 September.
- The competition aims to put the driver in focus and reinforce the importance of skilled and competent
- The set up for the World Final was based on two truck models (FH and FMX) and two tracks (fuel and productivity) in a closed off area. The winner had the highest combined score from the two different driving stations measuring safety aspects, as well as fuel efficiency and