The search is underway to find the best liquid fuel tanker driver and fuel distribution depot in the UK and Ireland by UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA), as part of our 40th anniversary awards celebrations at UKIFDA EXPO 2020.
“Every year UKIFDA searches for the best fuel tanker drivers and the greatest staff members at fuel depots, to reward and thank everyone for all their hard work and commitment to the exacting standards set by the industry bodies – and every year we’re so impressed by the high calibre of the winners,” says Guy Pulham, UKIFDA Chief Executive.
“The 2020 Driver of the Year Award is once again sponsored by OAMPS Hazardous Industries, and the 2020 Depot of the Year Award is sponsored by Pen Underwriting,” adds Guy Pulham.
“Both awards celebrate our industry by finding the individual who drives with the highest standards of safety and customer care as well as the depot that operates to the most exacting standard.”
Karl Jones, Account Director at OAMPS Hazardous Industries, commented: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Driver of the Year 2020 Award. This is a special year for our involvement in the awards, as it is our 20th consecutive year of sponsorship. “It’s fantastic to see an organisation celebrate and reward hard work every year, in the way UKIFDA does with these annual awards celebrations.”
Adam Shefras. Managing Director at Pen Underwriting: “We are the largest insurer of fuel distributors in the UK & Ireland and its fantastic for us to be able to give recognition to staff at fuel depots for their hard work and dedication to meeting the high standards that go in many cases go beyond those set by the legislative authorities. We are very proud to be sponsoring an award that is celebrated within the liquid fuels distribution industry and widely respected for the exacting standards it represents.”
To enter into the Driver and Depot of the Year competitions, the company must be a member of UKIFDA. For the Driver of the Year Award, judges are looking for a driver with an outstanding safety record and who goes the extra mile for customers. Someone that stands out from their peers. For the Depot of the Year Award, the distributor needs to show they are an industry leader when it comes to standards or that they’ve made the biggest improvements with safety and operations.
The Driver of the Year Award winner receives the prestigious title of Tanker Driver of the Year together with £1,000 prize money and a certificate, and will be announced at the President’s Reception during UKIFDA EXPO 2020 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on 10th June.
Whereas drivers need to enter into the ‘Driver of the Year’ competition, all depots audited and passed by UKIFDA Technical Manager Tony Brown as part of the association’s Depot Certification Scheme in the past 12 months are entered automatically into the depot contest.
The audit is thorough and checks standards across 15 different sections for each depot, including tank storage, health and safety, and environmental management.
Tony Brown says: “When it comes to the depot award, we investigate the audit reports – part of an audit covers how every depot is operating compared to industry standards as well as how proactive, helpful and knowledgeable staff are, and how high maintenance and operational standards are.”
Applications for the Driver of the Year Award can be sent to UKIFDA before 24 April 2020. To obtain an application form or for further information, contact Membership and Events Manager Dawn Shakespeare at ds@ukifda.org
To find out more about the Depot of the Year Award and the UKIFDA Depot Certification Scheme, visit www.ukifda.org/certification/ or contact Technical Manager Tony Brown on tb@ukifda.org or 0121 767 1320.
2nd December 2019
