On September 10, 2011, the first “Drive me Challenge” competition in Poland took place, organized by TNT Express for the nearly 800 couriers cooperating with the company. 23 delivery drivers, selected in regional qualifiers, competed in three events. These were: a courier “round” in a delivery van on an “obstacle” course, a time trial on a slippery circle, and defensive and economical driving in a passenger car on a 23 km route.
The contestants’ evaluations were based on numerous criteria within three categories: driving safety, driving economy, and customer service quality, including, among others, the delivery of a sensitive shipment and a multi-package shipment.
According to the decision of the jury, composed of experts from the Safe Driving Academy and TNT Express managers, the best TNT courier in 2011 was Michał Świąder from Szczecin. As a prize, he will travel to the world championships in Paris, where on October 6 he will face the best TNT couriers from 12 countries.
– “Drive me Challenge” is an original project by TNT Express: it aims to increase the safety of courier work and improve customer service. An important goal is to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions – says Urszula Klimczak, Business Excellence Manager, TNT Express – TNT’s environmental goals in Poland are ambitious: by the end of the year, 85 percent of courier vehicles and 50 percent of trucks will meet the Euro 4 or Euro 5 standard. As a global company, by 2020 we plan to reduce CO2 emissions from road transport, air transport, and building operations by 40 percent; we already have the largest electric courier fleet in the world.
Michał Świąder is an experienced courier, driver, and competitor. He successfully participates in amateur car rallies (in a Citroen AX, Citroen Saxo). On a daily basis, he drives a Fiat Ducato, serving TNT customers from Szczecin and the surrounding area. He has been associated with the company for three years. The subsequent places on the podium were taken by: Michał Koza from Katowice and Wiesław Rudziński from Elbląg. The three winners received fuel vouchers with a total value of 6,000 PLN.
The partners of the national “Drive me Challenge” final were insurance companies: Generali and Warta.