The last state finals will be held the last weekend in March and the national final will be held in Sydney 30-31 March.

More than 1,500 drivers throughout Australia registered for the campaign which seeks to not only find the nation's best young driver, but also to enhance the image of truck drivers on the roads and to reduce road accidents.

The 'top driver' campaign is an initiative of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and Scania Australia in conjunction with Shell, Continental Tyres, National Transport Insurance, Freighter and Fleetmark.

The Australian campaign focuses on the importance of on-going education, training and road safety, and also concentrates on the trucking industry's existing skills and workforce development programs.

The Australian trucking industry faces a major shortage of drivers over the next decade as the industry is set to double in size at a time when many of the current drivers will retire. The campaign hopes to stimulate young people into the industry and embark on a life-long and rewarding career.

The campaign also seeks to make further reduction in the 22 per cent drop in fatal crashes on Australia's roads involving articulate trucks over the last five years.