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TruckNet UK...
Page 13
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Rikki Chequer, community manager of TruckNet UK, reports on the hot topics at the UK's leading truck driver forum.
This week I am starting with a look at a different part of TruckNet UK and a new competition for the Industry. "The Insider" is a read-only section of TruckNet UK. It carries news items directly concerning drivers and the transport industry, ranging from roadtests to reports from drivers and journalists of transport industry events.
This week on The Insider, TruckNet UK (alongside Truck & Driver) will reveal the 2007 drivers' choice truck of the year — a competition to find which truck drivers would most like to work with. All the manufacturers were invited to present their flagship trucks for judging: only MAN/ERF declined to take part.
Why another competition? Surely the ITOY and MT awards are enough?
Those events have a lot of standing in the industry, but they are not judged solely on a truck's driver appeal. The drivers' choice competition gives the manufacturers and the industry a unique view of the driveability and ergonomics of their products from the point of view of those who will be experiencing these features at work and rest on a daily basis.
This year's drivers' choice concentrated on the flagships — many fleets have only one or two of these models for their oldest or most loyal drivers. That being the case, it's no surprise that there wasn't a 'bad truck among them. These top-of-the-range models came packed with enough goodies to make your eyes water; a driver given any of them as a daily workhorse would be extremely happy... but there can only be one winner. Log onto TruckNet UK on Thursday morning to find out which model has received the ultimate accolade of being the best truck for the job.
• TruckNet UK (www.TruckNetUK.com) is free to register and use, so everyone can join in.