Celebrating The Heroes Behind Wheels on Drivers Week 2023

At HCCB, being a leading beverage manufacturer means more than just making refreshing drinks; it's also about ensuring they're accessible to our consumers. It is our drivers who play a pivotal role in making sure our beverages reach every corner of the country, making them an integral part of our operations. 

In recognition of their invaluable contributions and to extend our gratitude, every year, we dedicate an entire week to celebrate them. Echoing the national celebration of ‘Driver's Day’ on September 17, we orchestrate ‘Drivers' Week,’ a week-long commemoration of our dedicated drivers.

A week full of activities for drivers on the road

During the "Drivers' Week" from September 16 to 22 this year, we organised a range of activities designed to engage our drivers. This included fruitful dialogues about safety, hands-on workshops, and opportunities for sharing their on-road experiences. 

In our show of appreciation, we began by welcoming the drivers with roses and caps -  a simple gesture to signify our gratitude for their work, accompanied by a road safety oath-taking ceremony. The week also saw the unison of drivers and their families, as well as management in various activities like a factory tour and some fun games.

The overarching theme for this year's celebration was "Humsafar: Speed Thrills but Kills." Through this message, we aimed to remind our drivers that while timely deliveries are important, safety remains paramount.

Developing a safety-first mindset

The activities planned during "Drivers' Week" emphasise the significance of responsible and safe driving practices. Informative sessions and inspiring talks by experts reinforced the importance of road safety and created an environment that encouraged drivers to adopt a safety-first mindset.

The Drivers' Family Connect Program

This year, we went a step further. We introduced a new program called "Drivers' Family Connect". This way, we could connect with our drivers' families, forming a bigger, stronger HCCB family. Through this initiative, our site teams will visit drivers' homes, extending our support, and nurturing a well-knit community beyond the confines of work. As part of this programme, and in an effort to prioritise our drivers' well-being, we are organising health check-up camps at factory sites and HCCB depots. Drivers will be checked for diabetes, blood pressure, and cataracts, and free spectacles will be provided to those in need.

We're serious about safety at HCCB. That's why we have regular training sessions to equip our drivers with the best practices for safe driving. Our skilled trainers will provide classroom training to drivers on defensive driving techniques, efficient and safe driving practices, and night-driving strategies based on evidence-backed telematics data.

To further ensure safety, we place high importance on vehicle maintenance, regularly performing checks to keep our vehicles in optimal condition. Additionally, we ensure our drivers take adequate breaks during long routes to maintain alertness and reduce fatigue.

A big ‘Thank You’ to our drivers

As "Drivers' Week" closes and our driver engagement activities come to an end, we want to say one thing loud and clear, “Thank You.” Yes, a big thank you to our drivers, who work day and night to ensure our drinks reach every corner of India.

It is our drivers, who are indeed the real 'Humsafars' in our journey. Their safety is our top priority, and we recognise that working together enables us to achieve #ZeroIsPossible! As we come to the end of this "Drivers' Week", we look forward to countless celebrations and many roads to traverse together.