A decade of dedicated effort towards fuel saving, driver development
‘Every drop counts’. Thus goes the tagline of Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch Competition. This year’s Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge showed exactly how and why. India’s national off-road Fuelwatch champion Anil Reddy from SV Engineering Construction (SVEC) was edged out by Janghyun Son of Korea to the top spot in a tantalizingly close finish at this year’s event in Sweden in September. Anil did not win the top prize, but he did win the hearts of the global gathering at the one-of-its-kind annual event organized by Volvo Trucks, a leader in sustainable transport solutions across the world.
The Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge, born as an idea in Korea in 2007, has evolved into an annual event conducted with the aim of optimizing performance at minimum cost to businesses, society and the environment. The Challenge emphasizes the massive impact smart and efficient driving could have on the fuel economy which in turn significantly optimizes operating costs and sustainability for the transport industry. In its first decade, 15,000 participants have become ambassadors of the Fuelwatch community, sharing skills and technical knowledge picked up at the event to promote a more fuel-efficient industry.
The Falkenberg Racetrack on the outskirts of the town of Varberg in Sweden was where the most fuel-efficient drivers from the Asia Pacific region battled it out for the top spot at the 10th edition of the Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge. The competition saw Hsu Chin-lung from Taiwan bag the top honors in the on-road category, while Janghyun Son from Korea came out on top, among five contestants in the off-road segment, marginally ahead of Anil Reddy from India, who finished runner-up.
Lost for words on hearing the result, Hsu Chin-lung, the on-road champion, said: “I was not expecting this, but I am very proud and overwhelmed with what I have achieved. I am now aiming to keep the good work continuing to the global final.” The off-road champion Janghyun Son expressed his emotions saying: “It’s an honor to be able to participate in the Volvo Trucks APAC Fuelwatch Final as a representative of Korea, and I am so happy. If anyone would ask me what the secret is, I would just say to sit back, relax, and then trust your truck. It’s Volvo!”
Congratulating the winners on their achievements, Ms. Heléne Mellquist, President, Volvo Trucks International, said: “The great performances offered by our contestants underline the importance of the driver when it comes to achieving optimal fuel efficiency. This competition is all about sharing insights to improve drivers’ performance and benefit businesses in the long run.”
“We believe that the Fuelwatch competition addresses one of our core needs – lowering the operating costs. We know how important it is for drivers to be fuel efficient, and through Fuelwatch we are able to demonstrate how adequate training and preparation can help improve our customers’ bottomline. The competition is a platform to educate and train drivers on the importance of developing good driving habits and shows how improving driving style can have a positive impact on the overall fuel efficiency. Not stopping there, it also raises awareness that the drivers too have an important part to play in the profitability of the business. Together with our customers and drivers, we are able to drive progress of our industry”, added Ms. Heléne.
Mr. GV Rao, Director – Product, Brand and Marketing, Volvo Trucks India, who led Volvo Trucks’ Indian contingent to Sweden, congratulated Anil Reddy for emerging runner-up in the off-road category: “It’s a proud moment for India and its driver community. With each edition of Fuel Watch, the competition is becoming more and more intense and Indian drivers are becoming increasingly competitive to contest and win at the global level. The competition signifies the importance of driving behavior and its contribution towards achieving higher fuel efficiency, productivity and safety.”
Mr. Rama Rao A S, EVP, VE Commercial Vehicles, praised Anil’s effort in demonstrating great skill on the global platform and went on to add: “Volvo Trucks in India is firmly committed to customers in optimizing fuel consumption in their operations and will continue to drive this through various initiatives to sensitize customers and drivers for best driving and maintenance practices.”
Dynafleet delivers
The event was conducted over two days – the first for drivers to get accustomed to the track and go on practice laps and the second for the actual competition. The drivers were accompanied by a Volvo expert during the practice laps who guided them on how to tackle the track in the most optimal way. On the second day, the Volvo expert played a more passive role, only monitoring the drivers’ adherence to the competition rules and handling Dynafleet, Volvo Trucks’ proprietary fleet management system.
While drivers were testing their competency in handling the vehicle at optimal fuel efficiency, Dynafleet performed the most crucial task of accurately measuring the drivers’ fuel efficiency scores based on four key aspects – braking, speed adaptation, engine and gear utilization and standstill. Data on fuel efficiency, driver’s uptime and overall productivity were collected to gauge contestants’ performances and identify specific areas for improvement.
More than a competition, the Fuelwatch Challenge showcases real-world cost benefits for companies and industries, whilst positively impacting the environment and society-at-large. The role that drivers play is integral to achieving optimal fuel efficiency. Each edition of the competition continues to reinforce that training, coupled with insights from Dynafleet telematics, can significantly improve drivers’ performance and benefit businesses in the long run.
Remarking about the value delivered by Dynafleet, Mr. Ian Sinclair, Director – Product Management, Volvo Trucks International, shared: “I marvel how good Dynafleet is. In this competition, we are measuring millimeters of fuel which can mean a lot to two competitors. People in the transport industry are very busy and their margins are quite small. Through Dynafleet we can give them a way to measure their fuel, manage their fleet better and improve their profitability. We want to see our customers make money and will continue to assist them with that.”
What was interesting to observe was, though all contestants were national champions who had overcome stiff competition in their respective countries, the difference in fuel consumption between the best and worst on-road drivers was a staggering 32 per cent while the gap stood at 14 per cent in the off-road category. That said, the difference between the winner and runner-up in the off-road category was nothing more than ‘a glass of wine’, testifying that “a single press of the accelerator or brake pedal could turn out to be the difference”, as remarked at the start of the competition by Mr. Per Bruun Hansen, Driver Development Manager, Volvo Trucks.
The fuel economy figures also go on to indicate that while manufacturers like Volvo deliver trucks with outstanding quality and extremely high reliability and efficiency, a lot lies in the hands of the driver to extract the best from the machine through his/her driving. This exactly has been the purpose and the core focus of the Fuelwatch Challenge.
The I-Shift advantage
While driver efficiency was the prime focus of the competition, one simply could not discount the technological edge delivered by Volvo trucks. While Dynafleet helps operators by revolutionizing the way fuel economy is monitored, thereby enhancing overall fleet efficiency, it would not be an exaggeration to call the I-Shift a ‘dream technology’ for the drivers.
It was revealed at the awards presentation ceremony that the winner of the on-road competition drove 100 per cent on I-Shift without switching over to manual mode even once. The statistic was a reflection of the kind of ease and comfort the gearbox gives drivers and not to forget the fuel economy benefits it delivers.
“The value of the I-shift is the consistency it gives to the performance of the truck. Every time there’s a gear shift, we have a perfect clutch engagement which eliminates the possible inefficiencies due to human error during gear shifting”, explained Mr. Sinclair.
While some drivers, especially in the off-road category, did use the manual mode during the competition, which was nothing more than an 18-minute run, the I-Shift contributes significantly to enhancing driver productivity during regular working conditions which are typically for 8 long hours in challenging mining conditions and in demanding climatic conditions in countries like India.
Customer delight
Mr. N. Vinod Reddy, Managing Partner, SVEC, was a proud man at the end of the competition. His driver Ravi Poleboina had won the Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge last year, and this year Anil Reddy topped it up with a runner-up finish. When asked about his Fuelwatch experience, Mr. Reddy, calm, composed and humble, said: “It has been a team effort from Volvo to identify the potential of our drivers through the Fuelwatch initiative. This year it is Anil and last year it was Ravi. Both have become National Fuelwatch champs and have excelled at the global level too. Both have already become ambassadors in our company, and as our driver trainers, they will motivate other drivers to improve their efficiency and performance in the years to come.”
Answering a question about the importance of such events for customers, Mr. Reddy shared: “Events like these are important for us because ultimately we are the beneficiary in terms of fuel saving, driver efficiency and safety aspects, thanks to the training given by Volvo Trucks. All customers face problems in their company and initiate driver training in their sites. As an initial step, I was very interested in the Fuelwatch idea and was personally involved in monitoring the driver efficiency and motivating our drivers to perform well.”
Talking about the key benefits and takeaways from being part of the competition for the last few years, he added: “We started using Volvo trucks in 2000 and have seen very good improvement in fuel efficiency and driver productivity every year, especially after participating in Fuelwatch. Thanks to Volvo’s driver training program, we are now seeing close to 3 to 4 per cent improvement every year which translates to huge savings for our company.”
As Fuelwatch turns 10, it has earned a huge reputation as the most exciting and productive driver competition in the world. Yet to be successfully emulated by any other truck maker, the competition has got better over the years, and as we step into the second decade of the event one can only expect the action, technology and skill to reach new peaks in the years to come. But all through it, one thing remains the same – ‘Every drop counts’.
‘I feel very happy as a Volvo driver’
Anil Reddy was on cloud nine after his tryst with destiny this year: National Fuelwatch champion, first visit to Europe, Asia Pacific Fuelwatch runner-up, support, encouragement, respect and cheer from all around. The Diploma holder shares his experiences on Fuelwatch, on being a truck driver, and more in an exclusive chat.
Excerpts:
On his Fuelwatch experience
I feel very happy as the National Fuelwatch champion and to come to Sweden to participate in the finals. I am honored to be amongst the Volvo global team and to be part of such an environment and felt very respected during the whole event. I thank Volvo for giving me this great opportunity.
On his motivation
After Ravi won the Asia championship last year, there was a big motivation among SVEC drivers to participate and win the competition this year. We had a lot of encouragement from Mr. Vinod Reddy and others at our company, and everyone felt we should aim for this and it would be a huge recognition.
On Volvo’s driver training efforts
Volvo has an outstanding vehicle plus they have very good driver trainers. I never thought I would come this far in the competition and it would not have been possible without the support of Volvo and its driver trainers. One of the trainers, Mr. Ramakrishna, visited our site once in three months and gave us tips on fuel efficiency and safe driving. He is a great inspiration for me to come to this level.
On his Volvo driving experience
I have been working with SVEC for three years and started by driving the Volvo FM9 with manual transmission. Now I drive the FMX I-Shift which is easy to drive, safe and comfortable even in mines. There is hardly any fatigue or difficulty in driving, and that’s why I feel Volvo is the best.
On the driver community
In India, drivers are looked down by the society because the profession is not respected much though we play an important role in nation-building. I feel there is nothing wrong in taking up the profession as I feel I work in an environment where I can perform. Our company management, from the top level to other staff, has encouraged me a lot and I am very happy with the way I am treated and respected.
On the future
I feel very happy as a Volvo driver. My management has offered me a role of driver trainer in our company for which I am delighted and thankful to them. I want to motivate the fellow drivers in our company for future Fuelwatch competitions.
‘Volvo Trucks is highly committed towards the fuel efficiency mission’
Interview with Mr. GV Rao, Director – Product, Brand and Marketing, Volvo Trucks India
What does the success of Indian drivers at the APAC Fuelwatch event mean to Volvo Trucks India and your efforts in driver training?
It is a moment of pride for us when an Indian driver wins the APAC Finals – Ravi from SVEC won it last year and this year, Anil Reddy from the same company has won the second place. This demonstrates that Volvo Trucks India is intensely focused on driver development and also firmly committed to fuel efficiency improvement which would definitely boost profitability for our customers and also lead to emission reduction.
How do drivers and customers value your driver training and how is their response to the Fuelwatch event?
We at Volvo Trucks are highly committed towards Fuelwatch and the fuel efficiency mission with two primary objectives. One is that we strongly believe that the driver can make a huge impact on the overall efficiency of the vehicles and the business. Two is, on the technology front, we have one of the best trucks in the world and have configured a driveline which delivers the best fuel efficiency. With Fuelwatch, we want to sensitize the entire driver community and also our customers on the importance of fuel efficiency. We want to drivers to come showcase their best driving skills by motivating them and also rewarding them accordingly. From the time we started the Fuelwatch event in India, every year there has been growing interest from drivers and also our customers who look forward to the annual event as it brings out the best practices from drivers in terms of safety and efficiency.
How many drivers have your reached through Fuelwatch in India?
In India, we had the first edition of Fuelwatch in 2009 when we adopted the global style of the competition. Ever since, more and more customers have come forward and encouraged their drivers to participate. This year, the preliminary rounds were held at 20 locations across the country with close to 400 drivers taking part. 30 drivers were shortlisted from the lot from which Anil Reddy became the National Champion. We have touched over 10,000 drivers over the years and have reached a level where our customers look forward to the competition with so much interest and motivate their drivers to take part in the competition. Since fuel accounts for 50 per cent of their total operating costs, the competition has immense influence on the bottomline of their business.