Microlise has begun its search for the UK’s best HGV driver which will be announced at the annual Microlise Transport Conference in May 2019.

The Microlise Data Science team will analyse 210,000+ anonymous drivers’ recorded by Microlise telematics in 2018. It will be anonymised and analysed, with company, contract and driver personal identification information removed..
 
Now in its fifth year, the main Microlise Driver of the Year Award is based on analysis of Microlise telematics performance data and will uncover the best short, medium and long distance drivers of the last year, before an overall winner is identified.
 
The awards are also open for five nomination-based categories including Young Driver, Most Improved, Lifetime Achievement, HGV Hero and Extra Mile. Telematics data will not be a factor in these awards, with the nomination process open to all drivers, or their transport managers, whether or not they are on the Microlise telematics platform. 
 

Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, and Microlise judge Joan Aitken said: “As I spend so much time dealing with the bad guys, it is so good to be involved in looking at the best.” 
 
An independent expert judging panel is being appointed to impartially produce a shortlist of three drivers across all categories – both data and nomination based – and who will also decide the award winners. Motor Transport editor Steve Hobson is already confirmed to judge; as are Road Haulage Association chief executive  Richard Burnett

Microlise’s executive director Bob Harbey said: “Shortlisted drivers across all categories will win a track day for their achievement; and a seat at a special awards ceremony held in May, 2019 – the day before the hotly anticipated Microlise Transport Conference. The overall Microlise Driver of the Year winner will be revealed in front of more than 1,200 attendees at the event. 
 
“These are the most comprehensive awards for drivers of heavy commercial vehicles. Our data science team deploy the latest techniques to cut through the noise and evaluate data from hundreds of thousands of anonymous drivers, ultimately helping us to understand who the best driver in the country is.”

Hovis driver Richard Barnes took home the overall Microlise Driver of the Year Award last year, also winning the medium distance category, for drivers who regularly undertake journeys between 31,000 – 60,000 miles per year.
 
Nominations can be made through the Microlise Driver of the Year Awards website before the closing date February 15, 2019.