This, the most coveted Award in the road transport industry, is for the outstanding road haulage or 3PL company of the past year. The Haulier of the Year category is open to any company running 11 or more commercial vehicles of 7.5 tonnes GVW or over.

Adaptability and resilience are two key attributes of road transport, and they were in evidence in 2021 more than ever.

Hauliers have faced increasing customer demands coming at the same time as acute shortages of drivers and even fuel. At the height of the pandemic, the transport industry was hailed as “unsung heroes” who kept the UK fed and supplied with loo rolls against all odds. The tenacity to keep on finding new ways of maintaining exceptional customer service in ever more challenging circumstances is something to be applauded – loudly.

Against such a background the industry is simultaneously beginning to address the need to de-carbonise as both the public and government demand efforts to tackle the climate emergency. The Haulier of the Year Award seeks to reflect this background.

To win this Award, you need to show:

• Excellent customer service and evidence of high levels of customer satisfaction
• Agility and flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions
• Leadership on environmental sustainability including a clear strategy for reducing carbon emissions
• Commitment to the safety of both employees and other road users
• A strong staff welfare policy that includes mental and physical well-being
• A sound commercial strategy which includes long term partnerships with customers rather than transactional relationships
• Maintaining the highest operational standards including a declaration the company has not been called to a PI in the last three years

Entries MUST include: three years’ audited accounts and a print out of the DVSA OCRS for every operating site covered by the entry.