The Young European Truck Driver Competition (YETD), Scania's flagship driving skills and road safety event, is returning once again in 2012.

As in previous years, the ultimate prize will be a brand new Scania R-series truck valued at 100,000 euros. This vehicle will be competed for by the top performing driver from each participating European nation at the YETD 2012 Final, which will be staged at the headquarters of Scania in Sweden in September 2012.

Each competing nation will send one contestant to the YETD 2012 Final.  To secure this highly sought-after place, drivers first have to prove themselves as the best in their country by winning their local National Final, entry to which is gained by way of online qualification.

For UK drivers, the process begins by registering at www.scania.co.uk/yetd and completing a testing set of theory questions.  The ten highest scoring entrants will be selected to compete at the UK National Final, which will take place at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire on 23 June, 2012.  Only one online entry per driver is allowed and in the event of a draw a tie break will come into effect. 

Those qualifying for the UK National Final will pit their skills against one another in a contest designed to test their ability to drive economically and operate safely and efficiently at all times.  The winner of this event will be named Young UK Driver of the Year and invited to represent the United Kingdom at the YETD 2012 Final.

Entry to the UK-arm of YETD is open to all young truck drivers meeting the following criteria:

• Born in 1977 or later;
• Holder of a Category C+E driving licence;
• UK resident;
• Available for the UK Final (22-23 June) and the YETD 2012 Final (6-9 September) should they qualify.

"In addition to offering a highly desirable top prize, YETD seeks to uplift professional driving standards and thereby contribute towards improved safety on our roads," said Hans-Christer Holgersson, Managing Director of Scania (Great Britain) Limited.  "As such, Young European Truck Driver is not only an attractive competition for young drivers but an important one too, and I would therefore encourage as many as possible to enter."

Since its creation in 2003, YETD has spawned a series of similar competitions around the globe and now forms part of a programme known as Scania Driver Competitions.  In 2012, it is anticipated that a total of 55,000 drivers from 47 nations will compete in Scania Driver Competitions worldwide.

Photo: Previous YETD winner Colin McKeag.