DHL-B&Q's Edward Fowell wins Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2012

July 10, 2012

DHL-B&Q's Edward Fowell wins Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2012

10.7.12

Wheelsology

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The Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2012 has been won by DHL – B&Q driver Edward Fowell.

On hearing the announcement that he had won the gruelling fuel economy focused final he declared himself to be, "Overwhelmed, it's marvellous. I couldn't believe
it," he said, adding modestly. "I knew I'd done good, but not that good!"

Edward, who has been driving an LGV licence for nine years, drives a Volvo FH artic for DHL on the B&Q contract.

After being presented with the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2012 trophy by Volvo Trucks Commercial Truck Director Ian Mitchell, he described the competition as 'very tough' and the route as "very difficult, with lots of hills and hairpin bends."

Edward said that the secret to his success in taking the top spot from his fellow nine competitors in the final was down to forward planning, coasting and keeping the truck rolling. All of which were aided by the I-Shift gearbox which he described as 'The Best'.

From its base at Volvo dealer Irish Commercial's state-of-the-art premises at Oranmore, near Galway, the Driver Challenge final itself was held over a tough 132 km (82 mile) route around the West of Ireland Counties of Galway and Mayo.

In addition to heavy traffic on the Galway ring road dual carriageway, the route also took in rural roads around part of Connemara. These included a vicious 1 in 4 (25 per cent) gradient uphill double hairpin on the R345 between Cornamona and Clonbur, Co. Galway. The competitors also had to navigate their way through the Saturday traffic on the congested main street in Cong, Co. Mayo.

The 10 finalists represented companies ranging in size from independent hauliers like Bacton Transport, David Watson and CJ Carruthers, to supermarkets ASDA and Sainsbury's and logistics operators such as DHL- B&Q and NFT.

The competitors in the final drove five identical Volvo FM11-450 6x2 tractor units coupled to a fleet of fully-freighted new trailers kindly loaned by Stobart Group.

The identical trailers were loaded to within a 0.05 per cent of each other and a Volvo Trucks Driver Development trainer rode in each cab to ensure competitors followed the route.

The whole event was timed to coincide with the final in-port competition of the Volvo Ocean Race – the round-the-world yacht race - which was also underway in Galway the same weekend.