The recent Fall Meeting of the American Trucking Association’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) in Nashville, Tenn. featured the fourth annual “SuperTech” National Technician Skills Competition, “where top technicians compete to be trucking’s best.”
David Bryan Lewis, ASE Master fleet technician for Wal-Mart Transportation LLC, again took top honors for 2008, earning an expense-paid trip to the 2009 Daytona 500 and a Snap-on tool chest. By duplicating his achievement as overall winner from last year, Lewis became the contest’s first repeat grand champion.
Ninety-six technician contestants made it past the written exam to compete as finalists in the daylong schedule of hands-on skills challenges. Winners of the “Best in Skills Category” at each of the 14 diagnostic skill stations each received a Toughbook laptop pre-loaded with a diagnostic tool package courtesy of Panasonic and Noregon Systems. Additional sponsor prizes were awarded for some skill stations, including $1,000 gift cards.
Finalists each received an Apple iPod Touch media player. Organized by the TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee, TMCSuperTech showcases the degree of skill and knowledge shown everyday by trucking industry technicians. It’s the only industry-wide competition dedicated both to honoring technician professionalism and acknowledging the best with recognition and valuable prizes, its organizers note.
Skills station winners included:
· Christopher Barnett, Ryder System Inc., for Steering/Suspension
· Norbert Estrada, TravelCenters of America, for both the Fasteners/Fastener Repair and Brakes skills stations.
· David Thrower (a first-time competitor), FedEx National LTL, for Starting and Charging
· Michael Bogard, Ryder System Inc., for Drivetrain
· Richard Fasoli, Con-way Freight, for PMI
· Ken Myers, N.Y. State Motor Truck Association, for Electrical
· Thomas Pianalto, Diamond International Trucks, for HVAC
· Doug Skelly, First Vehicle Services, for Safety and Environmental
· Kevin Schwarzbauer, Carolina International Trucks Inc., for Service Information
· David Bryan Lewis, Wal-Mart Transportation LLC, for Repair Order
· Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck Inc., for Wheel Ends
· Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, for Tires & Wheels
· Phillip Mellor, Swift Transportation Co. Inc., for Engine
· Gary Fassett, International Truck & Engine Corp. was high scorer on the written test.
FLEET EQUIPMENT magazine, a proud sponsor of the Tires & Wheels skills station, congratulates all of the contestants, judges, staff, observers and sponsors for participating in this event to encourage heavy-duty technician professionalism and development.
More information on the TMC and TMCSuperTech competition may be found at: http://www.truckline.com.
