Volvo Trucks have announced the winner of this year's Fuelwatch Challenge. Clocking the lowest fuel consumption over the 40-kilometre drive challenge in the final stage, En Ahmad Bin Othman from Logistik Petikemas Sdn Bhd in Prai emerged as the victor of this year’s Fuelwatch Challenge. He achieved a strong result of 2.52 kilometres using only 1 litre of fuel driving a Volvo truck with a 40-footer container carrying 20 tonnes of load. As the national champion and the next Fuelwatch ambassador, En Ahmad Bin Othman is set to represent Malaysia at the Fuelwatch APAC and World Finals 2014, to be held in Volvo’s home country in Gothenburg, Sweden later this September. Go and make us proud.



One must be aware that unlike the 'more interesting stuff' like supercars, sports cars and even any type of cars, trucks (or lorries) and their very real and human drivers are the heartbeat of our nation, transporting what we need throughout the country day in and day out. This is why we here at Motoring-Malaysia.blogspot.com continue to bring in trucking news, day in and day out.


Press Release

Volvo Trucks Announces the Fuelwatch Challenge 2014 Champion! 

The Challenge aims to build the overall value entity of Malaysian truck drivers; 

Winner to represent Malaysia at the Fuelwatch APAC and World Finals in Sweden



Subang Jaya, 9 June 2014 – Going beyond the durability and technology of the trucks, Volvo Malaysia began its search for Malaysia’s most fuel efficient driver two months ago through its annual nationwide fuel-saving competition, Fuelwatch Challenge 2014. Today, the search concludes with the crowning of Malaysia’s most fuel efficient truck driver at a Gala Dinner held at Holiday Inn to celebrate the occasion.

Recognising the contribution of truck drivers to the whole nation, the Fuelwatch Challenge 2014 kicked off
with six preliminary rounds across the country covering Shah Alam where it was launched, Johor Bahru, Prai, Kuantan, Kuching, and Bintulu.

Close to 800 truckers participated in the challenge where they underwent a series of written tests on driver’s
training to qualify for the semi-finals. Out of this total, only 20 participants were shortlisted for a real drive challenge in the semi-finals, where three of the most skilled drivers proceeded to compete in the finals.

In the finals, the champion was selected based on the lowest percentage of fuel consumption within the time limit set, taking into account all the applied safe driving techniques. Clocking the lowest fuel consumption in a 40-kilometre drive challenge in the final stage, En Ahmad Bin Othman from Logistik Petikemas Sdn Bhd in Prai emerged as the champion of this year’s Fuelwatch Challenge. He achieved a strong result of 2.52 kilometres using only 1 litre of fuel driving a Volvo truck with a 40-footer container carrying 20 tonnes of load. As the national champion and the next Fuelwatch ambassador, En Ahmad Bin Othman is set to represent Malaysia at the Fuelwatch APAC and World Finals 2014, to be held in Volvo’s home country in Gothenburg, Sweden later this September.

“Prior to Fuelwatch, driving a truck has just been a daily task for me. It was just a job to feed my family. Now I know that driving is about so much more after gaining these useful knowledge and experience. The
challenge has taught me a great deal about the efficient use of fuel and the impact of driving behaviours on both the business and the environment. Winning the Malaysian chapter has given me the inspiration to improve my skills and push my capabilities further. I really look forward to the challenge in Sweden as it’ll be a great experience and learning opportunity for me,” said En Ahmad Bin Othman.

Close behind the trails of Volvo’s new Fuelwatch champion are the second and third place winners from Shah Alam - En. Zaril Nizam Bin Zakaria from Linfox Transport (M) Sdn Bhd (second place) and En. Azrul
Haiza Bin Abdul Aziz from Vertex Mission Sdn Bhd (third place).

An annual event over the last five years, the Volvo Fuelwatch Challenge has helped put Malaysian truckers
on the global map, pitting local champions against the world’s best truckers. The Fuelwatch Challenge is about achieving maximum fuel efficiency through a comprehensive approach incorporating vehicle optimisation, maintenance, performance monitoring, safety measures and driver behaviour through a nationwide competition format.

The event was attended by Guest-of-Honor, En. A. Halim Husain, Head – Operations Group, Suruhanjaya
Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD), who expressed his wish to see more companies in the private sector
follow the footsteps of Volvo Trucks Malaysia and spearhead initiatives such as Fuelwatch to help shape a
stronger trucking community.

Managing Director of Volvo Malaysia, Mr Mats Nilsson said, “The Fuelwatch Challenge has proven to be one of our successful annual signature events. We have seen increased participation every single year. We had about 200 participants in the first year, which increased to more than 300 in the following year, 500 last year and 800 this year.”

“Beyond the popularity of the challenge, what we really strive to achieve is to inspire a positive change in truck drivers’ role by empowering them to adopt fuel efficient and safe driving behaviour. Trucker drivers are movers of the economy and we want them to take pride and responsibility in their job” added Mr Nilsson.

This year’s Fuelwatch Challenge was also paired with the Volvo Driver Development Programme (DDP) which is currently offered free to Volvo’s customers. Given the importance of the role of truck drivers to the economy, the DDP provides an additional and more in-depth training platform to impart useful, comprehensive and hands-on approach to building well-rounded Malaysian truck drivers and overall fleet management.

The Fuelwatch Challenge is endorsed by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) of the Malaysia Ministry of
Transport (MOT). All information, tips, and know-hows about Fuelwatch are available to the Malaysian truck drivers through the Globe Truckers Club. Free membership to the club is opened to ALL truck drivers in Malaysia with a valid truck license Class E and/or GDL (bersendi) license.

More information can be obtained from the official Volvo Trucks Malaysia facebook page at www.facebook.com/VolvoTrucksMalaysia.

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