UD Extra Mile Challenge – Ultimate drivers keep the world moving!

The UD Extra Mile Challenge is UD Trucks’ global driver competition. It uniquely simulates a transport cycle – pre-inspection, fuel efficient and safety driving, parking skills – linking driver skills to business reality.

There are local market qualification rounds, and the best driver selected in each market will qualify for the Global Final at the UD Experience Center in Ageo, Japan, where finalists compete to find out who is the ultimate driver.

The UD Extra Mile Challenge serves as a symbol for UD Trucks’ going the extra mile for customer success and commitment to support all aspects of smart logistics.

Ultimate drivers keep the world moving – and we support them

Around the world transportation companies are facing a severe challenge: a lack of skilled drivers. Our goal is to help our customers attract good drivers, and make each one of them an ultimate driver. Ultimate drivers safe fuel and operation cost, care about the truck, the cargo and the environment, and put safety first.
At UD Trucks we design our products with the driver in mind, the best trucks for all drivers. Trucks that are smart and fuel efficient, with a driver environment that makes driving as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Ultimate drivers aren’t simply born with exceptional driving skills. They have to go through a period of learning, spending time on the road, perfecting their skills, mile after mile. Our aim is to help accelerate this process to allow more drivers to become ultimate drivers as quickly as possible. That’s why we offer comprehensive driver training programs – and that’s why we created the UD Extra Mile Challenge.

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UD Extra Mile Challenge competition – the concept

UD Extra Mile Challenge is a driver-skill based competition that tests drivers in three key areas: pre-drive inspection, fuel efficient and safe driving, and maneuvering and parking skills.

However, the UD Extra Mile Challenge is not only about technical ability. The focus is as much on mind set. The competition encourages drivers to think more commercially by highlighting the trade-offs between speed, delivery time, fuel efficiency, safety and smooth driving.

With UD Extra Mile Challenge we also want to motivate our drivers, and promote truck driving. It’s an important, challenging and interesting job that it’s at the heart of smart logistics.

UD Extra Mile Challenge 2024 Ultimate Driver crowned

From October 22-25, heavy-duty truck drivers from around the world competed in the UD Extra Mile Challenge 2024 global final, held at the UD Experience Center in Ageo, Japan.  

The UD Extra Mile Challenge is a driver-skill based competition that tests drivers in three key areas: pre-drive inspection, fuel efficiency and safe driving, and maneuvering and parking skills. 

The competition featured the top drivers from 11 countries, each having already won individual regional competitions from a field of 400 drivers. Four drivers for the heavy-duty Quon and seven for the heavy-duty Quester battled in their bid to become the Ultimate Driver. 

The countries represented in the global final were Australia, Japan, Singapore, Mauritius, Indonesia, Qatar, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and South Africa. 

UD Extra Mile Challenge 2024 results 

 Quon Final 

  • Overall Champion: Matt Modra from MA&RC Modra (Australia) 

  • Pre-inspection Award: Akira Chiba from Kamei Logistics Service (Japan) 

  • Driving Skills Award: Akira Chiba from Kamei Logistics Service (Japan) 

  • Fuel Efficiency Award: Sihib Garda Sahid from Serveng (Mauritius)   

Quester Final 

  • Overall Champion: Taufiqul Ulum from PT Cakraindo (Indonesia) 

  • Pre-inspection Award: Mohammad Amin Ismail from Naza Transport (Malaysia)　　　　　　 

  • Driving Skills Award: Nguyen Minh Phat from Itl Corporation (Vietnam) 

  • Fuel Efficiency Award: Taufiqul Ulum from PT Cakraindo (Indonesia) 

Quon Category Winner - Matt Modra

from Australia

Not only was it rewarding to qualify for the UD Extra Mile Challenge global final in Japan, but going on to win the competition for Australia was a real honor.

Quester Category Winner - Chawin Chalermyart, S. Kanoksub Logistics Co., Ltd.

from Thailand

I tried to do my best and to keep calm during the competition. I dedicate this achievement to my wife who will give birth to our first son.

Reflecting on the competition, UD Trucks Senior Vice President, Shinya Hasegawa, said,

“Logistics is essential to keeping our society running, and truck drivers play the most important role in that. The UD Extra Mile Challenge puts the skills of the very best drivers to the test. We are honored to host them at the global final."

The UD Extra Mile Challenge demonstrates the company’s commitment to driver education and motivation, while shining a light on the truck drivers themselves. It serves as a symbol for UD Trucks and how the company is going the extra mile to provide the trucks and services that the world needs today and tomorrow.