HGV Drivers votes Inverness as the UK’s Kindest Town

The winner of the UK’s Kindest Town, as voted for by hauliers and HGV drivers was announced on the 21st September, as the town of Inverness, winning them a cash prize of £10,000. The campaign, a joint effort between transport software provider Mandata and the Road Haulage Association, that started in September and has gathered more than 1,000 votes across the country.

The aim of the campaign was to improve public attitude towards HGV drivers, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of need to improve truck stop facilities across the country , where drivers often have to overnight after a long day’s work, without sufficient access to food and restrooms.

The campaign, a joint effort between the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and transport software provider Mandata, started in April and has gathered more than 1,000 votes across the country.

The aim of the campaign was to improve attitudes towards HGV drivers, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of need to improve truck stop facilities across the country , where drivers often have to overnight after a long day’s work, without sufficient access to food and restrooms. The campaign also sought to highlight that treating drivers with kindness on the road and at delivery sites, goes a long way to improving their mental health.

Truckers can spend days away from home and often it’s the small acts of kindness that can make the difference – on the roads and at delivery centres.

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said: “It was the pandemic that really raised awareness of the industry among the public – after all it was the truckers that kept shelves full and ensured that medical staff were equipped with vital PPE. This is why I’m particularly pleased that Government has recognised the need for improved facilities for drivers and that they have agreed to match the investment made by truck stops to improve their facilities. ”

Sandra Pretorius, Chief Marketing Officer at the Mandata Group, said: “The search for the UK’s Kindest Town was all about creating awareness amongst the general public of the challenges faced by HGV drivers, whilst giving drivers and hauliers the opportunity to thank what they considered to be the kindest town by giving them their vote. The volume of support received for this campaign, from truck stops to haulage businesses to social media influencers, is by far the best indication of how much the industry values its drivers, and it is our hope that our drivers know we actively stand with them to improve life on the road.”

The RHA and Mandata will be working with the town of Inverness to support them as they select a community project that will benefit most from the donation.

Tamworth and Northampton came second and third, respectively.