Regent Insurance launched the initiative in 2015 to highlight the important role truck drivers play in the country’s economy. These resilient men and women transport essential goods to every part of the country, 365 days a year.
The Highway Heroes campaign – which, following Hollard’s acquisition of Regent earlier this year, will be Hollard-branded next year – is about creating awareness about the challenges truck drivers confront on the roads, and encouraging good driving behaviour to make the roads safer.
“This is my second year of being part of this initiative and I think it is brilliant,” says Shaun Fincham, owner of Big Blue Trucking. “It promotes safer roads and gives something back to drivers. Truck drivers are the backbone of the South African economy – without them, we have no economy. I’m very happy to be part of this initiative.”
The campaign celebrates truck drivers who display the best driver behaviour in their day-to-day duties. This year, the top 10 finalists were evaluated on their driving competencies over a set period of time, including harsh braking, speed and distances travelled. The measurements were based on telematics data obtained from tracking devices installed in their trucks, to determine the best and most responsible drivers.
“I’m very impressed that I’m in the top 10,” says Elliot Chiliza, who has been a driver for 13 years. “This initiative challenges us to consider how we drive, and to focus when we drive.”
Truck drivers have to be very considerate of other vehicles and watch out for animals on the roads in certain parts of the country, he adds: “You must be vigilant and be very aware.”
Chiliza says while he enjoys driving, it is heavy work, and the hours spent on the road are challenging. “Our work is very important. We deliver the food people buy at the grocery stores, the petrol people use in their cars, the cars themselves, the clothes people buy at clothing stores – everything people need on a daily basis.”
People are not always aware of the importance and value of transport and sometimes they undermine truck drivers, he says “The movement of everything starts with us in transport – we are the backbone.”
This year, the number of entries – 890 – was nearly five times that of the first year, 2015. This shows how big the competition has become in the industry.
Regent Insurance provides high-level fleet and logistics management solutions to companies that operate commercial vehicles. Its philosophy is driver-centric with a systemic approach to improving driver behaviour and saving lives. Advanced technology allows control to be in the hands of the driver as well as the fleet owner. This leads to successful business operations and safety on the roads.
Finalist Antonio Dreyen, of Brima Logistics in Cape Town, says, “I’m excited and happy to be in the competition and interested to see who the winner will be. I think the winner will be someone who obeys the rules of the road, cares about other people and wants to be safe on the road.”
Dreyen says he loves driving and travelling around the country and sees the competition as a great opportunity. “It will be my first time coming to Johannesburg when I attend the awards, and I'm really looking forward to it. I enjoy my work – it’s nice to see different places and meet a lot of people. Time goes quickly on the road.”
