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The Scania Driver of the Year competition rewards safe and efficient driver behaviour on South African roads. Scania, Swedish truck manufacturer, first held the competition in 2005 in order to emphasise that competent and safe drivers are the cornerstones of successful transportation and distribution companies. Endorsed by road safety organisations like Arrive Alive, the competition relies on monitoring and assessing driver behaviour, using OMNiBRIDGE fleet management systems fitted into every Scania vehicle, to single out and reward excellent driving.
Scania customers can elect to purchase the FM Communicator and subscribe to OMNiBRIDGE’s FM-Web managed service. This allows them to track their drivers’ driving behaviour in real-time via email alerts or review behaviour in on-line reports that highlight such issues as over-speeding, over-revving, harsh-braking. Those drivers identified as having the least number of such driver violations can then be nominated. Drivers from companies across South Africa and Namibia compete against each other, working through written and practical tests to determine the best driver in the country. With a VW Polo as the grand prize, drivers are motivated to ensure they are on their best driver behaviour throughout the year.
Competitions like these highlight the need for ways of identifying and rewarding good driving behaviour. Efficient driving benefits fleet management companies in many ways, such as maximising the efficiency of deliveries thereby ensuring customer satisfaction; reducing road accidents and increasing driver safety, significantly cutting fuel consumption and maintenance costs to improve overall cost-effectiveness; and minimising carbon emissions so driving becomes less harmful to the environment.
Scania enjoys an ongoing partnership with OMNiBRIDGE whose flagship fleet management product, the FM Communicator, is fitted on the assembly line to every Scania vehicle. The FM Communicator on-board computer is designed to closely monitor each individual’s driving and reporting on undesirable driver behaviour such as harsh braking, over-revving, and over-speeding. The FM Communicator is also an early warning system for drivers to adjust their speed and behaviour. Supported by the FM-Web managed service, fleet managers can receive alerts to user-defined driving violations in real-time via email or mobile phone. They can also access detailed historical and real-time reports of driver behaviour on-line, to evaluate each driver’s skills and allow company management to facilitate additional training should weaknesses be identified.
Should a truck ever be stolen, the FM Communicator also enables live vehicle tracking thereby enhancing fleet and driver safety as OMNiBRIDGE’s vehicle recovery partner is be able to quickly respond and track stolen vehicles.
Charles Tasker, Managing Director of OMNiBRIDGE says “OMNiBRIDGE is dedicated to promoting road safety and improving overall business efficiency through our advanced fleet management technology.“
The current competition, running from August 2007 to April 2008, has expanded to include Scania bus and coach drivers. Scania South Africa invites all of their customers throughout South Africa and Namibia to nominate one or more drivers to compete in the highly publicised competition. Great prizes are on offer for the successful drivers, including a VW Polo for the winner.
About OMNiBRIDGE
Founded in 1997, OMNiBRIDGE is a global provider of fleet management products and services to companies of all sizes in over 75 countries on six continents. The company’s product range – formerly marketed under the VDO brand and sold by Siemens VDO for 10 years - helps fleet owners ensure driver safety, reduce fleet maintenance, running and fuel costs, comply with selected industry regulations, and track and protect vehicles and drivers. Customers include Parmalat, Schlumberger, Chevron, Greyhound, Spar, and Scania. OMNiBRIDGE has offices in South Africa, Germany and the United Kingdom and an extensive global distribution network. OMNiBRIDGE is a TeliMatrix Ltd company.
For more information, please contact:
E: info[.]omnibridge.com
T: +27 (0) 860 103 834
E: catherine.lewis[.]omnibridge.com
Issued By:
Lexi Fincham
HMC Seswa Corporate Communications
T: +27 11 704 6618
E: lexi[.]hmcseswa.co.za
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frances.gain[.]omnibridge.com 
