Pearce Crossley, a Field Engineer for technical facilities company Dalkia UK (Facilities), has won Lightfoot’s prestigious Fleet Driver of the Year award, sponsored by insurer Allianz, taking home £10,000 – the most money Lightfoot has ever given away to a driver.
Dalkia, which is focused on helping clients achieve net zero, is part of the EDF Group. It equips its fleet vehicles with Lightfoot driver coaching and reporting technology. To win the £10,000 prize, Pearce had to drive for a minimum of 24 weeks throughout the competition and reach the Elite Driver score (85% or above) every week within that period.
Lightfoot‘s in-cab technology provides real-time driver coaching designed to improve 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 translate into tangible benefits, including enhanced road safety, reduced CO₂ emissions, extended electric vehicle (EV) range, and improved fuel economy. Crucially, all of this is achieved without compromising the flexibility and responsiveness needed for real-world driving conditions.
Pearce 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.’
Pearce’s win was the icing on the cake for Dalkia, which has installed Lightfoot in nearly 300 of its vehicles to ensure its drivers are as safe as possible while on calls. As a result, the fleet’s risk profile has improved and fuel consumption has fallen.
Noel Clancy, Managing Director, Dalkia UK (Facilities), added: ‘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 significant investment, but we’re glad we made it, as we’re now really seeing the dividends.
‘We take safety really seriously, and the statistics that we’re now seeing show that it’s 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 don’t forget 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 demonstrates just how seriously we take safety, as lone working and driving are our greatest 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 Pearce 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 see the real-life consequences of elite driving in Pearce is immensely gratifying.
‘It’s the biggest prize Lightfoot has ever given away, and it is a 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, commented: ‘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.’
Rupert Lyon-Taylor continued: ‘Allianz is a world leader in its field and driver behaviour technology. So it’s a perfect partnership, and we’re very proud to have worked with Allianz for several years.’
Asked what he would do with the prize money, Pearce said he hadn’t had much time to process the win or make a decision.
‘I’ve never won anything like this before, so I’m not sure yet. But probably a holiday somewhere for me and my girlfriend.’
