Entry Deadline Friday 19th June 2026
SO HOW DO YOU ENTER?
IT’S NOT AS COMPLICATED AS YOU MIGHT THINK. IN FACT, OUR ADVICE AS ALWAYS IS: KEEP IT SIMPLE.
JUDGING 2026:
Questions have been released for each award category and are available by clicking the box beside each Award category.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW:
Please register your interest in entering by emailing [email protected] stating the categories you wish to be considered for and you will receive the Entry Questions by return.
All entries must be in for the Friday 19th June as the judging process will be extensive this year.
HOW DO YOU ENTER?
Your entry will not be judged on presentation but on your answers to the criteria questions. These can be found by clicking on the button beside the category you wish to enter.
Step 1:
Register Your interest in Entering button – then fill in email to [email protected] with the subject saying- I intend to enter the following categories and will have my entries in by the closing date of Friday 19th June.
List all award categories with a tick beside it.
Register Your interest in Entering button – then fill in email to [email protected] with the subject saying- I intend to enter the following categories and will have my entries in by the closing date of Friday 19th June.
List all award categories with a tick beside it.
Step 2:
Click on the Award Entry Questions Button to download the questions for that category. This is a guide – the same questions, with a fillable box for answers, are under the Enter Now button.
Separate award entries to be emailed for each category entered.
Click on the Award Entry Questions Button to download the questions for that category. This is a guide – the same questions, with a fillable box for answers, are under the Enter Now button.
Separate award entries to be emailed for each category entered.
Step 3:
Click on the Enter Now button and fill in your answers to the questions and don’t forget to press submit at the end. Please then send an email to [email protected] confirming the category or categories you have entered.
Click on the Enter Now button and fill in your answers to the questions and don’t forget to press submit at the end. Please then send an email to [email protected] confirming the category or categories you have entered.
Step 4:
You will be contacted after Friday 19th June to let you know you are a finalist and you may be asked for additional material.
You will be contacted after Friday 19th June to let you know you are a finalist and you may be asked for additional material.
You could be an individual, a company with less than 10 employees or a large national/ international outfit. You will be judged on merit, not size.
The judges are looking for excellence, outstanding qualities or contributions, unrivalled service and innovation, individuals and organisations who have gone the extra mile – so demonstrate all of that in the answers to your questions.
If you are asked to provide any additional information to support your entry once you are selected as a finalist, keep it as brief and to the point as possible. Feel free to send customer testimonies to support your entries. Entries should state the category they are entering.
Award entry enquiries can be made to Helen Beggs: [email protected] or M: 07779 713762.
You can enter any number of categories but bear in mind, it is left to the judge’s opinion to reallocate any entry which may be more suitable to another category or an additional category. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
All entries are private & confidential. The winner will remain confidential until the event.
Completed applications must be submitted on or before the closing date of Friday 19th June to allow the judges sufficient time to give all applications the necessary consideration and, where appropriate, to organize site visits and/or interviews.
New Award: Family Business of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding family-owned and/or family-led business operating in the export, freight, logistics and transport sector. The winner will demonstrate strong commercial performance, operational excellence and a reputation for reliability, while maintaining the values, culture and long-term vision that make family businesses so successful.
Judges will look for evidence of growth, customer service, innovation, people investment, and a clear commitment to the future through succession planning and continuous improvement.
Logistics Services Partner of the Year Award
The Logistics Services Partner of the Year Award recognises a company that has gone beyond standard service provision to work in true partnership with its customer, actively collaborating to design and deliver innovative, effective logistics solutions that address real-world supply chain challenges.
This award celebrates organisations that demonstrate excellence in problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, and value creation, whether through operational innovation, technology adoption, service redesign, or continuous improvement.
The award is open to logistics service providers, distributors, transport operators, and supply chain specialists that can evidence a customer-focused, solution-led approach.
Who Should Enter
This category is open to companies including (but not limited to):
· Logistics service providers
· Transport and haulage companies
· Warehousing and distribution specialists
· Multimodal and freight operators
· Integrated supply chain partners
Entrants must be able to demonstrate direct involvement in the design, development and implementation of a logistics solution for a specific customer.
Entry Requirements
To participate in this award, entrants must outline:
· The specific customer supply chain challenge(s) addressed
· Their role and level of involvement in developing the solution
· Evidence of collaboration, innovation and impact
Submissions should focus on practical delivery, measurable outcomes, and demonstrable customer benefit.
Safety Award
This award recognises organisations within the transport, logistics, and fleet sectors that demonstrate exceptional leadership in health, safety, quality, and wellbeing – protecting people, assets, and the public while maintaining the highest operational standards.
Entrants must show how health and safety is embedded across their business, from board-level governance to day-to-day operations. Submissions should clearly describe roles, responsibilities, and systems used to manage risk, ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory bodies, and drive continuous improvement.
Judges will consider how effectively current controls – or those in development – support the consistent delivery of safe, compliant, and high-quality transport and logistics services.
Driver of the Year
This year’s award will be presented to the commercial vehicle driver who offers the highest standard of driving skills; has an excellent driving record, shows dedication to the trade and personifies the ethos and reputation of his employer in his daily work. A practical driving test will determine the winner of this highly competitive category.
Excellence in Customer Service Award
This award recognises companies within the transport, logistics, and freight sectors that consistently deliver outstanding customer service and place customers at the heart of their business.
Open to hauliers, logistics providers, shipping companies, dealers, service agents, and equipment suppliers, the award celebrates organisations that go beyond expectation, demonstrate measurable service quality, and build strong, lasting customer relationships.
Customer testimonies are encouraged in this category and will be treated as strictly confidential and securely destroyed following the judging process.
Food Distribution Company of the Year
The Food Distribution Company of the Year Award recognises ambient and chilled food distribution businesses that demonstrate excellence across storage, handling, and delivery -while meeting the highest standards of safety, compliance, and customer service.
Open to food distribution companies, including food & drink manufacturers and processors, operating within the supply chain, this award celebrates organisations that combine operational efficiency with regulatory excellence, environmental responsibility, and the agility required to serve a demanding and time-critical sector.
Judges will look for clear evidence of best practice across food safety, fleet and warehouse operations, sustainability, and customer service.
Van of the Year
The Van of the Year award recognises the commercial vehicle that delivers the strongest all-round performance for professional operators. Judges will assess real-world suitability across comfort, driveability, efficiency, payload capability, safety technology and overall operational value at a Judging Day held on 24th June at TTS Nutts Corner.
This category is open to all new or significantly updated vans available to the UK/Irish market within the awards eligibility period, including diesel, petrol, hybrid and fully electric models.
Judges will look for a van that demonstrates:
· A well-designed and practical driver-focused cabin
· Strong road manners and usability across varied routes and conditions
· Competitive efficiency (fuel or electric range/energy use)
· Impressive payload capability and practicality for working life
· A relevant choice of options, safety systems and configurations
· Strong warranty and aftersales support for uptime and reliability
· A compelling overall ownership proposition for fleets and SMEs
Innovation Excellence Award
This award recognises an organisation in the export, freight, logistics or transport sector that has introduced an innovation which delivers measurable impact within the last 12-18 months.
The innovation may include (but is not limited to):
· New technology or digital transformation (systems, automation, AI, telematics, tracking)
· Operational improvements (process redesign, productivity, safety, capacity)
· Sustainability and decarbonisation solutions
· Customer service innovation (visibility, communications, delivery performance)
· Equipment, fleet, facilities or infrastructure improvements
· Workforce and training innovations that drive performance
Entries must show how the innovation has improved efficiency, service, safety, sustainability, resilience or profitability, supported by evidence and results.
Open to all transport operations including shipping, haulage, freight forwarding, warehousing, ports, air/sea freight, last-mile, and own-account fleets.
Transport Manager of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding Transport Manager who demonstrates excellence in compliance, operational control and leadership, while delivering measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, driver performance and customer service.
Open to Transport Managers working across the export, freight, logistics and transport sector, including haulage, distribution, own-account fleets, ports, warehousing and multi-site operations.
Judges will look for evidence of:
· Strong understanding and application of operator licensing and transport compliance
· Effective management of drivers’ hours, tachographs and working time
· A robust approach to vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness
· Leadership, training and culture-building within the team
· Use of technology to improve performance and compliance
· Continuous improvement and measurable operational results
· Commitment to safety, environmental responsibility and best practice
Chilled Operator of the Year
The Chilled Operator of the Year Award recognises chilled distribution businesses that deliver excellence across temperature-controlled transport, storage, and customer service.
This award celebrates operators with modern, well-maintained refrigerated fleets and high-quality chilled distribution services, combined with strong compliance, innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to people development. Judges will look for evidence of operational excellence, reliability, and the ability to adapt in a time-critical and highly regulated environment.
Top Team of the Year
The Top Team of the Year Award recognises outstanding teamwork across the transport, logistics, freight, warehousing, shipping, exporting, and dealership sectors.
Open to teams of any size – from two people to over one hundred, this award celebrates collaboration, leadership, and shared purpose. It recognises teams that, by working together on a project, initiative, or strategy, have delivered a significant and positive impact on their organisation, customers, or wider industry.
Judges will be looking for clear evidence of teamwork in action – overcoming challenges, achieving measurable results, and demonstrating a strong culture of collaboration, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
Apprentice of the Year
This year’s award will be presented to an apprentice, not certified at Level 3 before September 2026, who has demonstrated knowledge, skill and determination in the course of their training and who is excelling in a workshop setting. The winner of this category will be decided through a practical test..
Workshop of the Year
Judging for ‘Workshop of the Year’ is open to any commercial workshop, both private and public sector in Northern Ireland, including all council and government bodies. The winner of this award will have the best equipped, most up to date workshop that looks after its staff and its customer to an equally high standard.
Haulier of the Year (Under 30 Vehicles)
The Haulier of the Year Award recognises outstanding mid-scale haulage operators delivering excellence through professionalism, reliability, and customer-focused service.
Open to companies operating under a Standard Operator’s Licence with up to 30 vehicles specified, this award celebrates hauliers that demonstrate strong operational standards, compliance, flexibility, and a clear commitment to customer service -regardless of fleet size.
Judges will be looking for evidence of quality, consistency, and a business that punches above its weight in a competitive marketplace.
Entry Criteria
· Applicants must operate under a Standard Operator’s Licence
· Licence must specify 30 vehicles or fewer
National & International Haulier of the Year (Over 30 Vehicles)
The National & International Haulier of the Year Award recognises outstanding haulage operators delivering excellence across national and international operations.
Open to companies operating under a Standard Operator’s Licence with more than 30 vehicles specified, this award celebrates hauliers that demonstrate professionalism, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, strong customer service, and the ability to adapt in a demanding and fast-moving industry.
Judges will look for evidence of scale, capability, and consistency – alongside innovation, flexibility, and a clear commitment to customers, drivers, and operational standards.
Entry Criteria
· Applicants must operate under a Standard Operator’s Licence
· Licence must specify more than 30 vehicles
· Operations may be national, international, or both
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Road to Net Zero Champion 2026
The Road to Net Zero Champion Award recognises businesses, teams, or individuals across the transport, logistics, and supply-chain sectors that are taking meaningful, measurable action towards a net zero future.
Open to organisations and individuals at any stage of their sustainability journey, this award celebrates credible planning, effective execution, and demonstrable environmental and commercial benefit. Judges will look for evidence-based progress – not pledges alone – and for initiatives that deliver real impact while supporting a sustainable and competitive industry.
Flagship Fleet Truck of the Year
This award will be presented to the Flagship Truck of the Year – the pride of your fleet. The winner will be chosen by an online vote where the industry pick their favourite.
Transport Personality of the Year
This award will be presented to the individual whose personal achievement deserves industry recognition.
Sponsored by:
Truck of the Year
This award invites all truck manufacturers to nominate one vehicle from their model range over 18 tonnes GVW which they see as the ultimate fleet truck for the UK and Ireland. The winner will be ascertained through practical driving and presentations. More Information on application.
1: Operator/DriverAssessments
If there are 6 tractor units entered then 6 operators will be chosen who will pick their top driver and be given 10 questions on the vehicle which they will score. Each tractor unit entered will attend a ride and drive day at one location where the operators will drive the vehicles and then score them.
2: JudgementDay
As has been done in previous years we will ask presenters from the manufacturers to present the tractors to a judging panel in the normal 20 min slot with Q&A. Manufacturers will bring 2 guest judges as normal and the other judges will include the Transport Manager/MD and Driver from each of the operators who had the vehicles out on test.
Each of the judges will score each of the tractor models out of 10 against a set number of questions on the day, eg: Fuel Efficiency; Comfort; Visibility, etc.
These questions will be pre-approved by the manufacturer.
Scoring:
All sections will be added together and the winner will be chosen with the highest vote.