Scania Driver Competition finals looming

Scania Australia has announced the finalists for its Driver Competition, with the shootout's top 12 bus and truck drivers set to clash on the Gold Coast

The Scania Driver Competition is heating up, with the competition field now trimmed down to the top dozen bus drivers and truck drivers. After surviving the two preliminary rounds of knowledge-based questions, these 24 'Top Guns' of the industry will now lock horns on the tarmac to determine the best of the best.

The drivers will now tackle a series of practical driving exercises, a theory-based test and a mock media interview at Gold Coast Race Course, the bus drivers on September 30 and the truck drivers on October 1.

The winner of the bus category will be presented with prizes worth $10,000 at the Scania-sponsored dinner at the Australasia Bus & Coach Conference & Expo, held that evening. The winner of the truck category will win a similar $10,000 prize package, presented that afternoon at the competition's conclusion.

Ron Szulc, Brand & Communications Manager for Scania Australia, says the Scania's Driver Competition delivered benefits on many levels.

"Scania has been a consistent force promoting the professionalism of Australian drivers, having run this competition several times in the past,” he says.

"The Scania Driver Competition in Australia is one of more than 40 similar Scania-run competitions held around the world this year, as the company invites as many as 80,000 drivers globally to show off their skills and knowledge behind the wheel.

"Scania is proud to be a conduit to display the professionalism and knowledge of commercial drivers, helping to raise their profile within the general community, as well as to provide a platform for the best drivers to shine.

"We look forward to welcoming the finalists to the Gold Coast and expect to see some very tight competition. Among the truck contingent there are four previous finalists battling to improve their finishing positions from previous attempts, and among the bus driver contingent we once again have attracted a mix of male and female drivers, as well as one finalist returning after the 2012 event."

The finalists of the 2014 Scania Driver Competition are as follows:

Truck Driver Finalists (name/employer/state)

Scott McKee, Aldi, NSW

Leigh Stone, Harris Refrigeration, Qld

Matt Sharp, Toll, Qld

Ross Maw, AKD Softwood, Vic

Nick Hornby, Chemtrans, NT

Justin Burke, T&W Earthmoving, Qld

Scott Wightman, SRV Road Freight, NSW

Andrew Wilson, Esperance Freight Lines, WA

Ben Johns, Matthews Petroleum, Vic

Cameron Henry, Heytesbury Stockfeed, Vic

Rodney Ruskin, N/A, Vic

David Richards, T&M Heavy Mechanical & Site Services, WA

Bus Driver Finalists (name/employer/state)

Paul Di Pietro, Rockleigh Tours, Vic

Lauren King, Transdev, NSW

Ian Hoare, Warrnambool Buslines, Vic

John Badenach, Wisby's School Bus Service, Tasmania

Carl Myers, Swan Transit, WA

Kerry Kroehn, Torrens Transit, SA

Carl Searle, Hannafords Bus Service, NSW

Nick Veljanovski, Transit Systems, NSW

Nigel Chater, Cranbourne Transit, Vic

Jola Ramsay, Sid Fogg's Coaches, NSW

Charlie Ionadi, Ventura, Vic

Mark Goddard, Ventura, Vic

Scania Driver Competition finals looming

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