Unilever was recognised with the prestigious Middle East Fleet of the Year Award during this week’s Truck and Fleet Awards 2024.
In 2023, Unilever introduced both the first-ever electric van to its fleet in the UAE as well as the Volvo FH Heavy-Duty Electric Truck, garnering special praise for its efforts of heading towards reducing emissions via its logistics operations and achieving net-zero value chain emissions by 2039.
“Already one of the finest examples of fleet operators in the market, Unilever has made good on its promise to pioneer the green transportation movement in the UAE, particularly by adding the Volvo FH Heavy-Duty Electric Truck into its ranks,” said head of content at Truck and Fleet Middle East, Stephen White. “Unilever’s investment and ambitious sustainability strategy are making it a true pioneer for other fleets to follow.”
21 winners were recognised at the Truck and Fleet Awards 2024 with the event hosting more than 190 guests from across the GCC at the Ritz Carlton JBR in Dubai. On a night which saw the Volvo Electric FH take home the Middle East Truck of the Year award, the fleet finalists included some of the biggest names in the field.
While Unilever took home the judged Middle East Fleet of the Year Award, other winners on the night included BEEAH Group which was the winner of the Waste Management Fleet of the Year.
In a tough category to call, BEEAH was rewarded for its visionary approach to waste management and sustainable solutions, including introducing the zero-emission eEconic into its fleet of over 2,000 waste collection vehicles.
“BEEAH has said many times that it is determined to create a greener, smarter, and more efficient tomorrow and, in 2023, it showed how committed it is to decarbonising its growing fleet operations in the UAE, Egypt and KSA,” explained Stephen White.
“And it has done all of this while aligning with its ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions across its range of operations by 2040. We also saw it introduced the zero-emission eEconic from Mercedes-Benz into its fleet of over 2,000 waste collection vehicles at the end of the year, and will continue to be an international leader in its field.”
Momentum Logistics was nominated for the Middle East Fleet of the Year award and was also recognised for its industry-leading use of technology and best practice for the coveted Heavy Fleet of the Year award. In 2023, Momentum went hi-tech with the use of Artificial Intelligence and paperless after it launched a new Transport Management System which lets customers see the progress of a truck journey in real time.
“Momentum is setting the gold standard when it comes to fleet ownership and operations in this market – but where it stands apart is its dedication to improving fleet safety and environmental impacts. The fact they run a fleet of over 130 vehicles at an average age of 2.5 years, and boast a utilisation rate of over 92% is phenomenal,” said Stephen White.
The awards also honoured Cafu with the Excellence in Fleet Safety award and impressed with its dedication to ensuring the safety of our fleets, drivers, and stakeholders.
“Obviously Cafu is a familiar name to road-users in the UAE but its fleet safety programme and record is phenomenal,” said Stephen White.
Through a comprehensive approach to safety, incorporating robust driver programs, strategic operational initiatives, and cutting-edge technological solutions, it has established a benchmark for excellence in the market. In 2023, it accomplished an impressive milestone by completing 26,204,994 kilometres without lost time injuries, major accidents, or incidents, and, notably, recorded zero fatalities.
“In 2023, it also achieved 2,302,299 man-hours without any Lost Time Injuries. It did all of this while successfully transported 300 million litres of gasoline and diesel, conducting 5.5 million fills without major spills,” noted Stephen White.
