FORT MILL, S.C. — Scotlynn Commodities came up short in a North America-wide fuel mileage competition, but still holds bragging rights in Canada.

Continental Tire North America recently wrapped up its first fuel savings contest in North America, with Lillibridge Transportation being named the Fuel Savings Champion of the inaugural "Beat the Best" competition.

The Iowa-based fleet earned the Fuel Savings Champion award by achieving a 7.01 mpg average on its participating truck with Continental tires. They were also the Midwest regional winner of the contest.

Scotlynn won the Canadian regional Beat the Best competition to secure a place in the final stage of the competition with four American carriers and one from Mexico. The winning fleets in the U.S. and Canada had an overall average fuel consumption of 6.39 mpg.

The Beat the Best competition began in April with a fuel savings training course for participating drivers. Each fleet tracked fuel consumption and mileage for two trucks; one equipped with new Continental HSL2 (heavy steer long-haul) and HDL Eco Plus (heavy drive long-haul) tires, and one identical model truck with new tires of any other national brand. The fleets had to have comparable commercial applications and truck models to be eligible.

During the 10-week contest, each fleet drove at least 10,000 miles with each truck and provided their fuel consumption and mileage on a weekly basis. Weekly statistics were published on the Continental website (http://www.continental-truck.com). The winners were selected based upon the lowest gallons of fuel per 100 mile average on the truck equipped with Continental tires.

Continental plans to hold additional Beat the Best fuel savings contests in 2009 and 2010, including an upcoming competition featuring its new line of retread tire products, ContiTreads.