Inverness was declared the winner of the UK’s Kindest Town, as voted for by hauliers and HGV drivers, at the Road Haulage Association’s Forum for the Future event in Birmingham on 21 September. Tamworth and Northampton claimed second and third spots, respectively.
The campaign, a joint effort between the RHA and transport software provider Mandata, started in April and gathered more than 1,000 votes across the country. A community project in the winning location will now receive a cash donation of £10,000.
As well as improving attitudes towards HGV drivers and improving drivers’ facilities, the campaign also sought to highlight how treating drivers with kindness can go 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.
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.”