The story of Girteka driver Andrey, winner of ECO League Season 16

Media

ECO League is Girteka’s program designed to promote eco-driving among its drivers. Its main goal is simple: drive smart and safe. Each driver’s performance is analyzed using key eco-driving indicators: idling, coasting, use of brakes, cruise control usage, extreme braking, stops and engine load. There are two seasons every year, and Girteka drivers compete for awards. Across the fleet of nearly 6.500 owned trucks, these small changes help to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while making roads safer.

Andrey has been working as a driver at Girteka for seven years. Recently, he added another achievement to his professional experience – winning Season 16 of the ECO League. We spoke with Andrey about his road to victory, his approach to the job, and how his view of driving has changed over the years.

Two years on the road to victory

Andrey set himself the goal of winning the Eco League two years ago. He says it became a professional challenge: he wanted to test himself and see how good a result he could achieve. About six months ago, he came very close to winning but fell just short. Andrey kept an eye on his results and continued working to improve them, although this time he was not expecting to win.

“And then, after a tough battle, I won,” he says with a laugh.

But behind the good numbers, Andrey says, there is a lot of practical work. Trip after trip, he tried to improve his results little by little.

While working towards his goal, Andrey often turned to the instructors at Girteka Drivers Academy for advice. He says they know the most common mistakes and habits among drivers and often notice things that drivers no longer notice themselves behind the wheel.

“The instructors can see right through us,” Andrey jokes.

That does not mean he always agrees with their advice straight away, he adds, especially after doing something differently for years. But then he tries their advice on the road and realizes that it works. For Andrey, changing old habits is one of the hardest parts of learning. Sometimes he even asked to join training sessions that were not on his schedule. He says another chance to listen to an instructor is never wasted: there is always something new to learn or a question he has wanted to discuss for a while.

“Eco-driving is a philosophy”

One phrase has stayed with Andrey in particular. Andrzej, an instructor in Poznań, once told him: “Eco-driving is a philosophy of driving.” Over time, Andrey says, he came to understand just how accurate those words were.

“The hardest part is changing your mindset. It’s not just a driving style. It’s about how you see what is happening around you, how you behave on the road and, of course, your character.”

Andrey remembers being quite a hotshot driver when he was younger. If someone had told him ten years ago that he would one day win the ECO League, he says he probably would not have believed them. But with age, experience and new knowledge, his approach to driving has changed too.

Today, eco-driving for him is first and foremost about staying calm and thinking ahead. Instead of simply reacting when something happens, he tries to understand in advance how the situation might develop. In practice, that means watching the traffic flow, keeping a safe distance and coasting whenever possible. It also means not reacting to other road users’ impatience or nervousness, and not letting it affect the way he drives.

For Andrey, this is where eco-driving and safe driving go hand in hand. A truck driver is responsible for a vehicle weighing many tonnes, so rushing or making a poorly considered decision can come at a very high cost.

What makes a professional driver?

When asked what makes someone a professional driver, Andrey pauses for a moment before answering: a healthy lifestyle. Then he explains why.

Driving requires constant concentration. For hours at a time, a driver watches the road and traffic, analyzes situations and makes decisions. That is why it is important to stay physically fit, avoid unhealthy habits, get enough sleep, keep a clear head and react calmly to what is happening around you.

“From the outside, it might look like a driver is just sitting there turning the steering wheel. But in reality, you’re constantly focused and watching what’s happening on the road.”

Experience matters too, but experience alone does not make someone a professional. Andrey believes that you need to keep learning, even after many years on the road. There is always something new to learn – or an old habit to change, one that may have been wrong from the start but, after years of doing it, has begun to feel completely natural.

“Anyone who works as a driver will know what I mean,” Andrey adds.

The most important destination is home

When the conversation turns to the future, Andrey does not talk about big plans. The first thing he mentions is his family and home. He used to breed dogs and would like to return to it one day. Beyond that, he simply wants to enjoy life, travel with his wife and spend more time with the people close to him. Whenever Andrey talks about his family, there is a particular warmth in his voice. Even his ECO League prize has already been handed over to his wife. Asked what he plans to buy with the voucher he won, Andrey laughs: he gave it to his wife and will let her decide.