Centre for Driver Relationship Management (CDRM) in partnership with Netradyne to recognize India’s Exceptional Fleet Drivers
BENGALURU : The Centre for Driver Relationship Management (CDRM), with support from Netradyne, a leader in AI-powered fleet safety solutions, is set to honor India’s unsung heroes—India’s commercial fleet drivers—for their invaluable contributions to the economy and their commitment to safe driving practices, through the Smart Driver Award program.
Commercial fleet driving remains one of the most challenging yet underappreciated professions in India. These drivers form the backbone of the nation’s logistics and passenger transport ecosystem, ensuring goods and essential supplies reach every corner of the country. Despite their critical role, they face immense challenges, including long hours on the road, limited access to rest facilities, suboptimal food options, and prolonged separations from their families—all of which take an emotional and physical toll. This, combined with a lack of recognition, has created a pressing need to highlight their critical role in the economy and uplift their professional standing.
“Commercial fleet drivers are the unsung heroes of our economy, working tirelessly under challenging conditions to keep the country moving. At CDRM, we believe their contributions deserve greater recognition,” said Ramesh Kumar, Founder of Centre for Driver Relationship Management (CDRM). “Partnering with Netradyne, a global driver safety technology provider, we aim to celebrate drivers’ achievements, promote safer roads, and uplift their professional standing through the Smart Driver Awards. The awards will be conducted quarterly across four regions—North, South, West, and East—with nominations open until December 25, 2024. Companies and individuals can submit nominations to [email protected] ”
The Smart Driver Awards aim to spotlight these drivers’ exceptional safety standards, professionalism, and resilience while inspiring a broader culture of respect and safety on Indian roads.
“At Netradyne, we are deeply committed to improving road safety and empowering drivers with cutting-edge AI-driven technology. The Smart Driver Awards reflect our belief that recognizing and rewarding driver excellence is key to fostering a culture of safety and professionalism on Indian roads,” said Amit Kumar, Sr. Director of Marketing at Netradyne.
Regional juries will conduct virtual interviews with shortlisted drivers, and the final selection will be made by an eminent national jury comprising:
- N Sivasallam (IAS), Retired Special Secretary (Logistics), Govt. of India
- Pirojshaw Sarkari, Ex-CEO & MD, All Cargo Logistics
- Rama Shankar Pandey, Ex-CEO, Tata Batteries
- Yogita Shetye, GM – Business Associate
- Amit Kumar, Director-Marketing, Netradyne Technologies
- Prof. Dr. G Raghuram, Ex-Director, IIM Bangalore
- B K Sahu, Ex-ESI Commissioner, Govt. of India
- Abhishek Gupta, General Secretary, AITWA
About CDRM:
The Centre for Driver Relationship Management (CDRM) is dedicated to improving the lives of commercial fleet drivers through initiatives that recognize their contributions, promote safety, and enhance their professional standards. Founded by Ramesh Kumar, a veteran advocate for driver welfare and road safety, CDRM is driven by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by India’s drivers.
Ramesh Kumar’s unparalleled experience includes traveling over 300,000 kilometers on Indian highways since 2010, including 30,000 kilometers as a truck cleaner. He has authored five books, including the maiden work 10,000 Km on Indian Highways, which is part of the Library of Congress in Washington, USA. He also launched Drivers Duniya, India’s only English quarterly magazine dedicated to truck drivers, in 2015.
Under his leadership, CDRM has made significant strides, such as providing Smart Driver Training to over 25,000 drivers, focusing on behavioral aspects beyond traditional defensive driving. Ramesh has pioneered initiatives like the Highway Dhaba Adoption Programme, Driver Rest Room Facilities at factory gates, and Driver Engagement Programs at fuel outlets. His Cycle Yatra campaigns have promoted road safety, hygiene, green fuel adoption, and technological friendliness among truck drivers.
Furthering community engagement, Ramesh has conducted village visits to connect with truckers’ families through the Parivar Connect program and facilitated counseling assignments with fleet-owning companies to foster stronger bonds with their drivers. Additionally, he has contributed to Indo-Bangladesh trade facilitation studies at multiple entry points.
CDRM continues to lead the way in improving the lives of drivers, fostering a culture of respect and safety, and bridging the gap between drivers and the logistics ecosystem.
About Netradyne:
Netradyne is a global provider of AI-powered fleet and driver safety solutions. Its flagship product, Driver•i, leverages AI and edge computing to deliver real-time feedback and insights that improve driver behavior and fleet safety. Today, it is an industry leader in advanced fleet safety solutions with customers across India, U.S., Canada, Germany, U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. With marquee investors on board like Softbank, Reliance, M12 (Microsoft’s venture arm), and Point72 Ventures, Netradyne was founded by two Stanford University graduates and technologists, Avneesh Agarwal and David Julian. Netradyne currently markets ‘Driver•i,’ a fleet safety and coaching platform. Its technology uses deep learning and edge computing to bring rich contextual insights and solutions to the transportation industry to help fleets establish safe driving practices.