The overall winner of the FTA Driver of the Year Award 2016 has been revealed at this year’s Freight in the City Expo.
Matthew Pickering, an HGV driver at Samworth Brothers Supply Chain, was crowned as FTA's ultimate winner today (2 November).
It came after he took the 44-tonne category title at the three-day event held in July at Mercedes-Benz Wentworth Park in Barnsley, and saw him pip fellow category winners David West and Matthew Young.
West from Total Food Services Solutions scooped the 18-tonne award at the summer event while Young, from AAH Pharmaceuticals, won the vans category.
Drivers at the July event took part in rigorous driving tests including fuel efficiency, pre-use defect checking and manoeuvring skills.
Speaking at Freight in the City, Natalie Chapman, head of policy for London, the South-East and the East of England, said the awards recognised the "amazing job" professional drivers do and the important role they carry out".
Presenting Pickering with his trophy, FTA chief executive David Wells confirmed the competition would be run again in 2017.
Drivers that took part in the competition said they would thoroughly recommend their peers take part next year, in a “challenging, yet rewarding” event.
They added that they were pleased the awards recognised the effort they put into their driving roles.