The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is currently in the process of searching for the nation's best van driver, as part of this year's Van Excellence Driver of the Year contest.

Open to all FTA members and Van Excellence accredited operators, the competition aims to pit the most proficient light and heavy goods vehicle users against each other in a series of tests to assess their essential skills and determine who is the best in their profession.

Each year, a winner is crowned based on the essential skills of driving (fuel economy and driver behaviour), manoeuvring ability, risk awareness, legislative knowledge and the ability of the contestants to identify pre-use vehicle defects.

Now on the hunt for this year's top contenders, the FTA will announce this year's winner on July 14th.

However, following the success of the competition in the last two years, 2016 will be slightly different, with this year's contest spread over three separate categories:

• FTA Truck Driver of the Year (44-tonne) sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Trucks
• FTA Truck Driver of the Year (18-tonne) sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres
• Van Excellence Driver of the Year

FTA head of vans Mark Cartwright said: "The FTA Van Driver of the Year event really is testimony to the skills and expertise of the competing drivers.

"They're all employed by Van Excellence accredited operators who are working at the very highest standards, and those who take part really are the best of the best – from the best operators."

All of the assessments will be held at the Mercedes-Benz facility in Wentworth Park, Barnsley in the run up to July, with registration still open for those that wish to take part.