The UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge (UDEMC), a truck driving competition that delivers multi-faceted advantages to truck drivers and UD Quester fleet owners, recently concluded its final round for this year with the announcement of a winner. Truck driver Anuar Ahmad, a 20-year veteran from Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd, emerged as the Malaysian champion and qualified for the UDEMC Global Final 2017 in Japan in early November.
Held for the second time in Malaysia, the UDEMC was co-organised by Japanese truck manufacturer UD Trucks and its long-standing sole distributor partner in Malaysia, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment (TCIE). It is an extensive customer-outreach initiative focused on boosting fuel efficiency and road safety among truck drivers who are considered the life blood of the economy, with the end goal of increasing truck drivers’ competency.
Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director Hub Malaysia, UD Trucks, said: “One of the most important and successful philosophies of the UD brand is the ‘gemba’ spirit, which means the ability to go to the actual place to create value. Through UDEMC, we brought out this ‘gemba’ spirit in truck drivers by offering them a platform where they are encouraged to improve their skills and develop more appreciation and pride in their job.
“The cost of fuel is a big issue facing the logistics industry. With UDEMC, we are taking a holistic method that addresses drivers’ skills, vehicle maintenance and performance that all together contributes to business bottom line, efficiency and safety. UDEMC was designed so we could partner with our customers to give them a comprehensive approach to improving fuel economy and profitability starting at the grassroot level, by training the end users.
“In these two years, we have trained drivers on the importance of fuel efficiency and the growing participation from drivers and their employers this year speaks volumes of the impact we have had with UDEMC,” said Van den Heede.
Wong King Yoon, Chief Executive Officer, TCIE, said: “UDEMC was organised as a competition to increase truck drivers’ competency by improving their driving skills and knowledge on how to maximise the capability of a UD Quester heavy-duty truck. UDEMC guides drivers on how to maximise all the innovative features of a UD Quester truck to achieve the highest truck uptime and reduce operational cost.
“As UD Trucks’ sole distributor partner in Malaysia, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment looks forward to making this competition a key platform in the industry that educates drivers, fleet managers, customers and other stakeholders about the importance of good driving practices. It is also our commitment in helping Malaysian companies and truck drivers achieve maximum fuel economy, reduced cost, increased profitability and enhanced safety.”
In the final round of the Malaysian chapter of UDEMC, 10 UD Quester truck drivers took part in a day-long event held in TCIE’s dealership in Ipoh Perak. It started with a briefing on safety and a competition route tour. As the ambassadors of UD Trucks on the road, they were also given a presentation on UD Trucks brand, products, services and overall objective of UDEMC to further enhance their knowledge.
The real action began when the 10 finalists were divided into groups, with each taking turns to undergo the various test segments, including Pre-Drive Inspection, Driving Skills, Fuel Consumption, Safety Driving (Parking Test) and Cargo Friendly Driving Vehicle.
As the Malaysian champion, Anuar won an all-expense paid trip to Japan to represent Malaysia in the UDEMC Global Final 2017.
The highly elated Anuar shared: “UDEMC taught me a great deal about how to maximise the capability of Quester and to ensure efficient use of fuel. It is also about how to keep a Quester in optimum condition so that we can go the extra mile together. Winning the Malaysian chapter of UDEMC has given me the inspiration to improve my skills and push my capabilities further. I am really excited and looking forward to the challenge in Japan. Fingers crossed I can win a second trophy for Malaysia!”
Last year’s UDEMC Global Final in Japan saw Malaysian Quester truck driver Yuzairi Ibrahim from ASAC Logistics Sdn Bhd winning the top place.
In the Malaysian event, three other truck drivers also won awards in individual categories that reflected UDEMC’s comprehensive approach. They were Muhammad Khairul Abd Halim from Setia Maju Jaya Logistik Sdn Bhd who won the ‘Best Pre-Inspection’ award, Hasdi Raduan from Gabung Jaya Sdn Bhd the ‘Best Driving Skill’ award and Saim Jaffar from LSPCM Johore Sdn Bhd the ‘Best Fuel Consumption’ award.
