Pearce Crossley (pictured), a field engineer for technical facilities company Dalkia UK (Facilities), has won Lightfoot’s Fleet Driver of the Year award, sponsored by insurer Allianz, taking home £10,000.
Dalkia, part of the EDF Group, equips its fleet vehicles with Lightfoot driver coaching and reporting technology.
To win the £10,000 prize, Pearce drove for a minimum of 24 weeks throughout the competition and reached the Elite Driver score (85% or above) every week within that period.
Lightfoot’s in-cab technology provides real-time driver coaching aimed at improving both the safety and efficiency of driving.
It continuously monitors key driving behaviours – including harsh acceleration, braking, and cornering – and offers instant feedback to help drivers self-correct and adopt smoother, more controlled driving styles.
These changes can translate into tangible benefits: enhanced road safety, reduced CO₂ emissions, extended electric vehicle (EV) range, and better fuel economy.
Crossley said: “It’s amazing to win, and I was just in shock. When I started driving with Lightfoot it took a little while to adjust, especially because I’ve got an automatic van, but after I got that sorted it was quite simple really.”
Dalkia installed Lightfoot in nearly 300 of its vehicles, which it said ensures drivers are as safe as possible while out on calls, seeing the fleet’s risk profile improve and fuel consumption fall as a result.
Noel Clancy, managing director at Dalkia UK (Facilities), said: “We’re a facilities management business helping customers on their net zero journeys.
“We’ve had Lightfoot live for a few years now. It was a big investment but we’re glad we made it as we’re really seeing the dividends now.
“We take safety really seriously and the statistics that we’re now seeing, show that it’s definitely working, as well as the reduction in fuel consumption.
“We get a lot of calls when clients have issues, and we need to get to their premises as quickly, and safely as possible. Having Lightfoot gives us that comfort that engineers aren’t forgetting about safety in their mission to rescue a customer.
“I’m really proud of Pearce. He’s setting the bar very high for the rest of the drivers, and it’s really good for the business as a whole.
“It shows just how seriously we take safety, because lone working and driving are our biggest risks.
“So having the Lightfoot system and using it, and then Pearce winning the prize is an incredible achievement.”
Lightfoot’s chief customer officer Rupert Lyon-Taylor handed over the prize to Crossley at Dalkia’s office in Ipswich.
He said: “It was fantastic to present the cheque to Pearce. At Lightfoot we analyse and report on millions of pieces of data, but to be able to see the real-life consequence of elite driving in Pearce is immensely gratifying.
“It’s the biggest prize Lightfoot has ever given away, and it is testament to Pearce’s skill and Dalkia’s culture of driver support and fleet management excellence.”
Gerry Ross, head of commercial motor at Allianz UK, said: “‘We want to congratulate Pearce on his outstanding performance and winning Fleet Driver of The Year.
“We are glad to see the positive impact of our partnership with Lightfoot in promoting safer and more sustainable driving habits.
“Incentivising positive driving behaviour is a great asset to fleet risk management and it aligns with our commitment to road safety and environmental responsibility.”
Lyon-Taylor added: “Allianz are world leaders in their field and we’re world leaders in driver behaviour technology.
“So it’s a perfect partnership, and we’re very proud to have worked with Allianz for a number of years.”
Asked what he would do with the prize money, Pearce said: “I’ve never won anything like this before, so I’m not sure yet. But probably a holiday somewhere for me and my girlfriend.”
