After a series of national competitions across the Asia Pacific region, 14 top contenders met for a decisive race at the Falkenberg Racetrack in Sweden, the home country of Volvo Trucks.
Following superb performances in their respective categories, Taiwan’s Mr Hsu Chin-lung and South Korea’s Mr Janghyun Son were announced as the most fuel-efficient truck drivers of the Asia Pacific region. Mr Hsu is a professional trucker who works in a big Taiwanese transport company, while Mr Janghyun Son is a driver and the owner in Moa ICT, which transports construction waste.
The finals saw the contestants attending a one-day training session on fuel-efficient driving techniques and technical expertise, followed by the Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge grand finals on the second day.
Initiated by Volvo Trucks, global leader in sustainable transport solutions, the Fuelwatch Challenge is a competition in fuel efficiency and driver productivity that has become a mainstay event of the industry. It brings together technology and technique, with the best trucks and the best drivers, to highlight the massive impact of fuel economy on operating costs and sustainability for the transport industry.
During the Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2016, drivers demonstrated their competency in vehicle handling at optimal fuel efficiency. Using Dynafleet, the company’s proprietary fleet management system, fuel efficiency scores are accurately measured based on four key aspects – braking, speed adaptation, engine and gear utilisation, and standstill. Data on fuel efficiency, driver’s uptime and overall productivity is collected to gauge the 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 as a whole. The role that truck 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.
To win the title of the most fuel-efficient driver in the on-road category at this year’s Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge, Mr Hsu Chin-lung used 32 percent less fuel compared to the highest amount of fuel burnt at the event. In the off-road category, Mr Janghyun Son clinched the top prize with a notable achievement of 14 percent less fuel consumption relative to fellow contestants.
Translated into a real-world context, the fuel efficiency margins recorded in the on-road and off-road finals would offer significant cost savings potential, as well as major benefits for the environment.
Mr Hsu and four other contenders from Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and China who did well in the on-road competition of the Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2016 also advanced on to the World Final of the Drivers Fuel Challenge, which was held within the same week. 
We talk to a senior executive in Volvo Trucks Singapore.
