New Zealand‘s champion truck driver for 2017 has been found following a highly competitive final of the NZ Truck Driving Championship held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton last Friday.

Northland‘s Simon Reid of SJ Reid Transport proved his knowledge and skill across the many different aspects of the competition to take the victory and the title of NZ‘s Champion Truck Driver 2017.

New Zealand‘s Champion Truck Driver for 2017 Simon Reid at the awards dinner.

Northland‘s Simon Reid of SJ Reid Transport proved his knowledge and skill across the many different aspects of the competition to take the victory and the title of NZ‘s Champion Truck Driver 2017.

The competition was incredibly tight, with only a handful of points separating the top few competitors. For his efforts Simon took home a $6,000 cheque courtesy of major event sponsors TR Group and Master Drive Services.

24 regional and company heat winners fought it out across a range of theory and practical tests to find four class winners as well as the New Zealand Young Driver of the Year and the overall champion.

“To even have a chance of winning in amongst such a competitive field requires a high level of competence across a range of disciplines,” says competition coordinator Mark Ngatuere. “It‘s not just driving, it‘s a detailed technical knowledge of the machinery and the complex matrix of rules and regulations that govern our industry.”

John Baillie was all concentration during the final, going on to win the Tractor-Semi Combination category for the second year in a row.

In the rigid sections Sam Linton from Emmerson Transport took out the Class 2 competition and Andrew Crandon of Linfox Logistics won the Class 3 & 4 category.

Matthew Jackson of Ben Allen Transport came out on top of the Truck-Trailer Combination section, while John Baillie of Baillie Transport won the Tractor-Semi Combination category for the second year in a row.

EROAD NZ Young Truck Driver of the Year David Rogers in action during the final of the event, and giving his acceptance speech at the awards dinner.

David Rogers of Tranzliquid picked up the $1,500 winners cheque after being named the EROAD NZ Young Truck Driver of the Year. This category is limited to drivers 25 years old and younger and grows in strength and numbers every year.

“The Young Driver of the Year category is an important event to recognise some of the excellent young people in our industry and is designed to help inspire those who may be thinking about getting into road transport,” says RTF chief executive Ken Shirley.

Truck Driving Championship

NZ Rigid (Class 2) Truck Driver of the Year 2017 – Sam Linton, Emmerson Transport

NZ Rigid (Class 3 & 4) Truck Driver of the Year 2017 – Andrew Crandon, Linfox Logistics

NZ Combination (Truck-Trailer) Driver – Matthew Jackson, Ben Allen Transport

NZ Combination (Tractor–Semi) Driver of the Year 2017 – John Baillie, Baillie Transport

EROAD NZ Young Truck Driver of the Year – David Rogers, Tranzliquid

New Zealand‘s Champion Truck Driver 2017 – Simon Reid, SJ Reid Transport