Motor Transport Awards 2009

1st July 2009, Grosvenor House, London

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Best Use of Technology sponsored by:	We are looking for an innovative project that used technology (whether vehicles and their components or IT) to enhance your service and resulted in a clear benefit to your customers. This is not about just using industry-standard software, but looking at customers’ needs and developing a technology-based solution. The judges will want to know: • How it is innovative. • The specific outcomes for your operation and your customer’s business.

Customer Care Award sponsored by:	Customer care is more than just delivering the goods – it’s going out of your way to ensure that your operation consistently exceeds your customers’ expectations. You need to tell us: • How you monitor your levels of customer service • How you deal with that information • How you have gone above and beyond to delight your clients. We want to see commitment from all levels of the company and, of course, testimonials from customers and the results of your customer care surveys. Greater weight will be given to unsolicited, timely testimonials.

Dealer of the Year sponsored by:	To win the award, a dealer needs to show high levels of customer satisfaction across all departments (including the workshop), as well as proving financial success. The judges will also want to see evidence of: • Innovation • Strong sales (whether of new or used vehicles or both, or aftersales activities) • Increasing levels of customer satisfaction • Investment in staff training – and its outcome. You need to provide audited accounts for the past three years and customer testimonials (added weight will be given to unsolicited testimonials). The judges will also consider entries from dealerships that have turned-around their business and greatly improved their financial performance and customer service.

Environment Award sponsored by:	This award focuses on how you have improved the environmental impact of your entire business (not just the running of your fleet). We want to see companies that have evaluated in detail all aspects of their operation to identify ways in which they can reduce their environmental impact. The judges will be looking for a range of projects involving all parts of the business designed to make your company more environmentally friendly. Judges will need to know: • How you have measured your environmental impact • What initiatives you have taken • The measurable outcome(s).

Fleet Engineer of the Year sponsored by:	To become Fleet Engineer of the Year, you need to show not only exceptionally high professional standards, but also evidence of innovation to improve the running of your fleet. High standards could be shown through low accident rates or high levels of first-time MoT passes. Innovation could involve reducing fuel consumption, being more efficient or using technology creatively to solve a specific fleet problem. The judges will be looking for a well-run fleet where the fleet engineer is at the heart of the operation. Your entry should also focus on: • Cost control • Legal compliance • And if relevant, driver acceptance of new initiatives/fleet purchases. The judges will need a breakdown of your fleet (however, fleet size is immaterial – each entry will be judged on its own merits), and will also need to know how many staff report to you.

Fleet Truck of the Year sponsored by:	No submissions are required for this category. A panel of more than 20 fleet buyers will determine a shortlist; representatives for the shortlisted trucks will be called to a judging session where they will give a presentation to and take questions from the judges.

Fleet Van of the Year sponsored by:	No submissions are required for this category. A panel of more than 20 fleet buyers will determine a shortlist; representatives for the shortlisted trucks will be called to a judging session where they will give a presentation to and take questions from the judges.

Haulier of the Year sponsored by:	This is the most coveted award in the road transport industry. It is for the outstanding distribution company of the year. To win, you need to show not only strong financial results, but also a tremendous all-round commitment to: • Professionalism • Customer care • Safety • Training The winner will also need to show the active measures the firm has taken to improve service levels and to grow the company, in both size and profitability. Entries must include three years’ audited accounts, your VOSA OCRS score and evidence of: • High levels of customer satisfaction – including customer testimonials • Accident and incident rates for the past two years • Innovation • Outstanding success.

Innovation Award sponsored by:	This Award is open to transport operators, and product/service suppliers who can show operational success of their product/services. The judges will want to see evidence of how creative thinking has been applied to solve a problem. Entrants must show: • What the problem/issue was • How the innovative solution was arrived at • How it solved the problem/issue. Any innovation must be proven to deliver significant benefits.

International Operator of the Year sponsored by:	The judges will want to see submissions from UK transport operators succeeding internationally. How do you differentiate yourself from your rivals and how are you beating them? Judges will want to see: • Three years of your international operation’s accounts • Evidence of firm cost control • Safety record improvement • Fleet efficiency (including the use of telematics) • Customer care • Business development. Judges will also be keen to learn of any major challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Livery of the Year sponsored by:	The judges will be looking for a stylish livery that promotes both the company and presents a good image of today’s industry to the public. They will want to see a clear, modern, uncluttered and stylish livery that could also be witty, amusing or putting over a message. The Award could be for either a truck or van livery (open to any commercial vehicle that carries freight). The judges need to know: • What you wanted to achieve with the livery • How you arrived at this design (the more details of the creative process, the better) • Why you believe it deserves an award With your entry, you will need to supply a high resolution photograph (measuring 10” x 8”).

Low Carbon & Efficiency Award sponsored by:	We want to know what you have done to: • Reduce the carbon footprint of your fleet • How you are running it more efficiently Judges will need to know: • How you have measured your footprint • What initiatives (cutting out empty running, re-routing vehicles, using double-deck trailers or any other measure) you have taken • The subsequent outcome Your CO2 emissions should be expressed in kg of CO2 per tonne/kilometre.

Partnership Award sponsored by:	This Award is open to genuine partnerships between operators and their clients, and two or more operators working together. The judges will need to know: • Why the partnership was formed • What its aim or targets were • How these were achieved • Any measurable outcome data, especially in terms of improved customer satisfaction. As this is the Partnership Award, the entry form must be signed by both partners, and if you win, both partners will be called to stage and each will receive a trophy.

Safety Award sponsored by:	Entrants for this Award will need to show an exceptional commitment to all-round operational safety. Entrants will need to show: • Your accident and incident rates for the past two years (at minimum) • How you measured your rates • What analysis/review was carried out to plan the initiative(s) • What your initiative(s) was/ were • The outcome of the initiative(s) • Top-down commitment to the initiative(s). You will need to show evidence of communication of your safety programme to internal and/or external stakeholders. You will also need to reveal your VOSA OCRS score. Please note: this category is open to transport operators, and genuine partnerships between product/service suppliers and transport operators.

Service to the Industry Award sponsored by:	This is a special award, ultimately in the gift of the management teams of Motor Transport and the sponsor. If you would like to nominate a recipient, please email their name and your reasons for nominating them to angela.jones@rbi.co.uk. There will be no shortlist announced; the winner will be revealed at the Awards ceremony.

Training Award sponsored by:	Entrants in this category must show how they have improved the training of staff in the last 12 to 18 months. Your entry could focus on a specific group, such as drivers or management, or could cover all of your staff. The judges will need to know: • How you identified your training need • What training was implemented • How you measured the success of the training • The measurable outcome of the training. Transport operators of any size may enter this category.

Urban Delivery Operation of the Year sponsored by:	This new category is open to all operators that make multi-drop deliveries in the urban/suburban environment, whether to business or domestic addresses. Entrants will need to show evidence of: • How you have maximised the efficiency of urban deliveries (cost and timeliness of delivery being key measures) • How you are addressing and lowering the operation's environmental impact • Customer service offering and improving levels of customer satisfaction • How you have addressed the unique challenges of multi-drop urban delivery.