Healthy competition, when properly structured, can be one of the most powerful drivers of best practice in fleet operations. In high-risk environments such as fuel transport, competitive motivation sharpens discipline, reinforces standards and converts fleet safety from a compliance obligation into a strategic asset. Engen’s Formula Engen Driver of the Year (DOTY) programme is a good example of how performance-based recognition can be harnessed to elevate safety, consistency and operational excellence across a national tanker truck fleet.
In the Dangerous Goods transport sector where margins for error are super-slim, the Engen DOTY competition has evolved into a practical operational lever, reinforcing safe behaviours and professional driving standards across the company’s bulk fuel transport network.
Recognising excellence across the operation
The most recent Formula Engen Awards, held in late 2025 under the theme Fuel the Drive to Excellence, brought together colleagues from across the business to recognise outstanding performance in safety, capability, customer service, operations and leadership.
The gala event featured a keynote address by George Roberts, Engen CEO and Executive Vice President (EVP) South for Vivo Energy, who congratulated the winners and acknowledged the critical role played by Bulk Truck Operators in maintaining safe and reliable operations.
At the core of the DOTY programme are the drivers themselves. Following a rigorous qualification and assessment process, 24 drivers progressed to the national finals, representing the highest performing operators across Engen’s transport network.
Top honours were awarded to Johnysa Pearce, named Driver of the Year – Rigid, from Engen’s Cape Town Terminal in Montague Gardens. Ernest Ledimo was crowned Driver of the Year – Semi, from the Johannesburg Terminal in Langlaagte.
An embedded safety mechanism
For Engen, DOTY is not a ceremonial annual competition, but an embedded component of its Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ ) framework. The programme reinforces consistent standards across depots and regions while validating driver capability against real-world operating risks.
“The Driver of the Year programme is about setting clear, consistent standards for how fuel transport should be conducted,” says Bonnie Moyo, Engen Transport and Distribution Manager.
“It reinforces the behaviours that reduce risk on the road – from vehicle checks and defensive driving to emergency preparedness and professional conduct. By measuring and recognising excellence, we strengthen our safety culture across the entire transport operation.”
Discipline where it matters most
As Driver of the Year – Rigid, Johnysa Pearce demonstrated consistently high performance across technical, safety and behavioural criteria. His approach to pre-trip inspections, procedural compliance and defensive driving highlights the level of focus required to manage daily operational risk in fuel transport.
“The DOTY competition reinforces habits that are critical on the road,” says Pearce. “It’s about checking your vehicle properly, following procedures and staying alert, even when conditions are challenging. Those disciplines reduce risk and keep everyone safer.”
He adds that the strength of the programme lies in its realism. “The assessments mirror what we face in real life. When you’re transporting fuel, there is no room for complacency. The competition keeps standards high and reminds us of the responsibility we carry.”
Managing complexity in articulated operations
In the Semi category, Ernest Ledimo emerged as the top performer, demonstrating strong vehicle control, spatial awareness and composure under pressure. Articulated fuel tankers introduce additional layers of complexity, making precision handling and emergency preparedness essential competencies.
“Driving a semi tanker demands constant awareness,” Ledimo explains. “The competition tests how you respond under pressure and how well you understand your vehicle. That translates directly into safer driving on public roads.”
He also highlights the importance of organisational alignment: “Drivers don’t operate in isolation. Safe outcomes depend on the depot, workshop and scheduling teams working together. DOTY highlights how important that alignment is.”
Testing real-world readiness
“The DOTY assessment framework is closely aligned to real operating conditions,” adds Moyo. “Drivers are evaluated on theoretical knowledge, HSEQ requirements, alongside practical competencies such as vehicle inspections, precision maneuvering and defensive driving techniques.”
Emergency preparedness forms a critical component of the assessment process, including live fire-fighting simulations and scenario-based response exercises. These evaluations test not only technical skill, but decision-making, communication and adherence to protocol under stress.
Professional conduct at customer sites is also assessed, reinforcing compliance beyond the road environment.
Only drivers who demonstrate consistent excellence across all disciplines progress to the national finals, strengthening the credibility and operational value of the DOTY title.
Safety as a system outcome
While DOTY places drivers in the spotlight, the Formula Engen Awards recognise that fleet safety is the outcome of a broader operational ecosystem. Depot management, workshop maintenance, scheduling accuracy and customer service processes all directly influence driver performance and risk exposure.
By recognising excellence across these functions, Engen reinforces the principle that safety begins long before a vehicle leaves the depot. Preventative maintenance, realistic scheduling and consistent operational controls remain foundational to effective fleet risk management.
The DOTY programme plays a meaningful role in reinforcing Engen’s commitment to road safety. By setting clear benchmarks, identifying best practice and rewarding excellence, it contributes to reduced incident rates, improved compliance and a stronger safety culture across the fleet.
For truck fleet operators in general, Formula Engen offers a compelling case study in how structured assessment and healthy competition can elevate safety performance. While trophies are awarded once a year, the operational benefits – safer journeys, stronger discipline and improved accountability – are realised every day.
Editor’s comment: Fleet safety programmes often struggle to maintain momentum once the posters come down and the refresher courses end. Formula Engen however, has proven its ability to channel competitive motivation into measurable operational outcomes – the most important being enhanced operational safety. Well done folks!
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