The final of Scania’s Young European Truck Driver competition in Sweden – and live on the internet

Tomorrow (Friday, 7 September), 24 of Europe’s best young truck drivers will begin their battle to win Scania’s Young European Truck Driver (YETD) competition 2012 at Scania in Södertälje, Sweden. The winner will be announced on Saturday after an exciting head-to-head precision driving event featuring the three best finalists. This year’s global driver competitions attracted more than 70,000 participants, which is a new record.

Scania expects a large crowd at the final and is inviting the general public to an Open House between 11.00 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. The final will be broadcast live on Scania’s website www.scania.com. Live coverage will also be available on Twitter and Facebook.

“We have prepared an extensive programme of activities for visitors,” says Mikael Person, who is in charge of Scania’s driver competitions.

“We can guarantee outstanding driver performances and great excitement all the way to the finish line. People can also find out more about Scania at the DemoCentre and at Chassis production, where visitors will be able to experience our products and services on site.”

Person expects some 10,000 visitors, providing the fine autumn weather holds.

The 24 drivers who will battle it out for the title at the European final have qualified by winning regional and national competitions which attracted almost 17,000 contestants.

During the two-day final, drivers will compete in tests such as fuel economy driving, check before driving, cargo securing and safe manoeuvering.

“This year we have introduced rescue and fire-fighting as a new discipline,” says Person. “It will be interesting to see how the drivers will act at the scene of an accident.”

Scania’s inaugural driver competition was held inEuropein 2003. The competitions, which now take place globally, focus on the value of capable, highly skilled drivers as well as on the role of driver training in improving road safety and awareness of reducing environmental impact. Scania is organising similar competitions in Latin America, Africa andAsia, and this year’s global competitions have attracted a record number of more than 70,000 contestants.

The driver is the single most important factor when it comes to operating economy, the environment and safety. Capable and committed drivers contribute to energy-efficient transport, reduced emissions and better road safety.

“For the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Scania Driver Competition clearly highlights that a trained driver stands a better chance of avoiding accidents, while lowering fuel consumption and emissions as well as repair and maintenance costs for the operator,” says Jens Hügel, Head of Goods Transport & Sustainable Development at IRU, which endorses YETD.

“Having such trained professionals on the road is an IRU priority, supported by the IRU Academy training Programmes, and the IRU is therefore proud to be an official partner and jury member of the Scania Driver Competition.”

YETD also has the endorsement of the European Commission. The sponsor of the competition is Michelin, and the final inSwedenis also sponsored by Volkswagen Group Sweden.

Follow the YETD final live on Saturday 8 September from 11.00 CET on www.scania.com/YETD

Visit the press room at www.scania.com/yetd/media

For further information, please contact:

• Hans-Åke Danielsson, Press Manager, tel. +46 8 553 856 62
• Mikael Person, Project Manager for Young European Truck Driver,
  tel. +46 8 553 856 57

Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. Service-related products account for a growing proportion of the company’s operations, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Scania also offers financial services. Employing some 37,500 people, the company operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2011, net sales totalled SEK 87.7 billion and net income amounted to SEK 9.4 billion. Scania press releases are available on www.scania.com

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