Maruun announced on October 22 that it held the "2025 Safety Driver Contest (Tank Truck Division)" based on the Maruun Group Safety Activity Plan at the UD Trucks UD Experience Center in Saitama Prefecture.
<From left: President Nakamura, winner Yasuda, runner-up Suzuki, and third-place finisher Ukita>
<Nine drivers selected from across the country>
On the day of the event, a total of 65 people participated, including the nine drivers, supporters from each branch, and staff from the head office. At the opening ceremony, President Masayuki Nakamura encouraged the drivers, saying, "Of course, safe driving skills are important, but it is the 'attitude of prioritizing safety' that is the pride of a professional driver," and the drivers approached the competition with seriousness.
The competition was held with the aim of improving the safe driving skills and further fostering safety awareness among employees working in the tank truck division, and nine drivers selected from sales offices nationwide participated. The first female driver also made an appearance, and drivers ranging from young to veteran engaged in a serious competition, making it an exciting day that embodied the Maruun Group's philosophy of "safety first."
<Parallel parking>
<Straight-line driving>
<Parking>
The competition consisted of six events simulating actual driving: parallel parking, offset alley (a competition where participants had to move from the right lane to the left lane over a narrow distance without knocking over cones that were positioned in different locations), straight-line driving, slalom (forward → reverse), following distance (stopping), and garage parking. Participants were judged comprehensively, including the accuracy of basic actions such as safety checks and three-point support when getting out of the vehicle.
In a challenging environment where even slight differences in steering input could determine the score, the players tackled the challenge with calm judgment and high concentration. Among the players, there were many comments that "everything is difficult," with many saying that parallel parking and straight-line driving were particularly difficult.
In another competition, where participants had to run straight for 2 meters with cans containing balls placed 70 cm apart, only three contestants managed to complete the course without dropping a single ball, much to the awe of the spectators. Loud cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.
The results of the scoring showed that Shoki Yasuda, a 24-year-old in his first year with the company and from Maruun Transport West Japan's Kurashiki branch, took first place. Following him, Kiyotaka Suzuki from Maruun Transport East Japan's Miyagi branch came in second place, and Hiromichi Ukita from Maruun Transport East Japan's Keihin branch came in third place. All three were recognized for their high level of safety awareness and stable operating skills.
In his comments, Executive Vice President Uchida (General Manager of the Energy Transportation Business Division) reflected, "First of all, I was impressed by the high level of the drivers' driving skills. Next, I was strongly impressed by their high level of safety awareness, their determination to 'absolutely not cause an accident.' And everyone's level was so close that it was difficult to rank them." He also urged the participants to "be sure to take the experience you gained today back to your workplaces and share it with your colleagues."
In his closing remarks, Executive Officer Yaguchi (Head of Techno Support Management Division) stated, "This competition is not a place to compete for superiority or inferiority, but rather a place to apply the experience back to the workplace. There are no shortcuts to safety, and it is only by accumulating careful checks one by one that we can achieve zero accidents." It is hoped that the athletes and participating employees will continue to put into practice this "safety-first attitude" in their daily transportation work.
<Group photo of participants>
The Safety Driver Contest was launched in 2018 with the aim of "accident prevention," "improving driving skills," and "training instructors." (It was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.) Tank trucks, in particular, are heavy and long vehicles, and because the liquid inside sloshes with the movement of the vehicle, they require advanced driving skills and concentration to maintain vehicle stability.
