The UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge 2020 Winners - Every Country is Declared a Winner Due to the Pandemic & Some Details on the Competition, UD's Tie-up with Isuzu and More

Last Tuesday, March 16 2021, UD Trucks held a virtual awards ceremony for the winners of the Extra Mile Challenge 2020 local driving competitions. Instead of having 1 winner from the finalists, a total of 10 winners from 9 countries joined the ceremony virtually to be honored and officially crowned Ultimate Drivers. The folks at UD Trucks decided that due to the challenges the world is currently facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic (where travel restrictions are abound and work itself was challenging in every continent due to lockdowns) it was deemed wise to crown all of the country winners as joint champions. 

So this year's awards ceremony made everyone a champion. The UD Extra Mile Challenge started in 2015 and is a global driver competition. It is actually one of the few events from truck makers all over the world that recognises a truck driver's skill and capabilities. It simulates a day in the life of a truck driver and tests both pre-inspection and driving techniques - from fuel efficient and safe driving to parking skills. In a normal year, local markets hold qualification rounds, and the best driver selected in each market qualifies to take part in the Global Final held at the UD Experience Center in the headquarters in Japan.

But in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Japan Global Final due to lockdowns and travel restrictions as mentioned above. Instead of holding such an event where everyone got to travel to Japan and be graced with the hosts' hospitality and a visit to where UD Trucks build and design their vehicles, all local market winners have been chosen as Ultimate Drivers - a worthy designation considering these drivers kept trucks moving in spite of the pandemic, continuing to deliver the goods and necessities that we all depend on. 

Of course, they will still get an open ticket to visit UD Trucks over in Japan. More on that will be stated below...

While the pandemic has also fueled the growth of e-commerce, the logistics industry remains highly competitive, making efficient drivers an essential asset for trucking companies. The ability of the driver to maximize fuel efficiency not only contributes to the bottom line, but helps reduce emissions and environmental impacts. The Extra Mile Challenge is a way to promote and recognize the safest and most fuel efficient drivers on our roads today.

Addressing the winners from Ageo headquarters in Japan, UD Trucks President Takamitsu Sakamaki said, “It is a shame that you cannot be with us in person to celebrate this occasion, but we are delighted that you could join us for this virtual event. You are truly the unsung heroes, supporting society in the midst of the pandemic, carrying food and medical supplies to people in need. We congratulate and thank you for your outstanding contribution to logistics.”

The winners were selected among 500 drivers, who competed in qualifying rounds held across nine countries - Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. Each winner was awarded an Ultimate Driver prize box, which included a custom-made cap, shirt and masks. Last but not least the box contained two virtual airline tickets to Japan, which will be converted to actual tickets once the pandemic subsides and normal international travel resumes.

On behalf of the winners, Efren Zamora from Philippines, thanked UD Trucks for its support, saying “COVID-19 added challenges to our daily work. In Philippines, we were required to submit additional documentation when entering different cities, which hampered our operations somewhat. However, this was also motivation to improve my driving skills to maximize fuel efficiency while keeping safety as the top priority. Being recognized as an Ultimate Driver is a huge honor for me and I hope to become an even better driver in the future.”

Malaysia was represented by Encik Khairul Nafsha bin Ishak from Setia Maju Jaya Logistik Sdn Bhd.. Khairul said that the competition actually made him more knowledgeable on handling his truck with heavy loads and he does think that the competition is excellent for drivers like him. In terms of driver recognition for their services, skills and hard work, the UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge is indeed something good for the Japanese truck maker to organise year after year.

Of course, this year was markedly different in that none of the winners got to go to Japan, and got a T-shirt, cap and a towel only. But they will still get to go to Japan once all of this is over (from what I see it would be at least mid-2022 before borders are open) and they still have ALL of the bragging rights in that they are the best in their respective countries. That is very important actually if you like sitting at the coffeeshop or pub and banter with your fellow drivers. For a good laugh that is.

Anyway, the media managed to throw a couple of questions to the folks at UD Trucks after the online ceremony at a private Zoom online media Q&A. What was important from that was the fact that three main questions were answered by them which are as follows:

1. The New Set-up with Isuzu - UD Trucks WILL be part of Isuzu but it will be its own separate brand. There should be no major changes in terms of the most with what we think as both Isuzu and UD Trucks benefiting from an exchange in terms of manufacturing costs and vehicle design. In the future, most likely production will benefit from more parts sharing and but both will still have their own identity as they have strengths in different segments and in different markets. So even such competitions like the UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge will remain as it is but the main point is that while the pandemic has slowed things down in terms of what is actually happening (from a news point of view), the transfer from Volvo Group to Isuzu is actually ongoing.

2. When asked whether the Extra Mile Challenge will be held at other venues and not in Japan, Mr. Konstantin Kriegelsteiner, SVP Brand & Communication (pictured above, holding the virtual ticket) had stated that the brand takes pride in themselves to invite the winners to Japan. This is so that they can show their hospitality and also the winners get to visit the heart of UD Trucks, where the trucks are designed and first built. It is more of a host inviting guests into their home and well, you only have one home usually right.

3. On the fact that why there were no women finalists from the 9 countries, Konstantin stated that there were women participants from certain countries. One that came to his mind right away was that there was a lady competitor from Thailand who did quite well but did not win. In fact, if you think about it, this is one competition where the winner is based solely on skill and men and women compete against each other driving the same vehicle. So it is actually an equal playing field. 

UD Trucks would definitely welcome more women drivers as there is a shortage of drivers throughout the world. Maybe more effort should be done in promoting truck driving as a profession for women. On a similar note, I have seen many lady truck drivers from UD Truck's sister brand (pre-Isuzu of course), Volvo Trucks where women drivers came out top in Volvo Truck's Fuelwatch Challenge over the years. This is nothing new but yes, there is definitely space in this profession for women. 

Let's hope that things get back to normal soon. This virtual events have to be done and conducted in times like these but gosh, these folks would have gone to Japan already but now they have to wait awhile.