Truck Center Techs Compete For Tech Challenge Title

Forty-five technicians from five Truck Centers, Inc. service departments recently completed the first round of competition for the inaugural Tech Challenge title.   In addition to the recognition of their abilities, participants are vying for more than $5,000 in prizes including tool gift certificates and an all-expense paid trip to next year’s “SuperTech” competition presented by the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Association.

The program was implemented to highlight the advanced knowledge and professional skills that the technicians bring to the Truck Centers’ network of dealerships in order to consistently deliver premier customer service, according to the company. The participants recently completed a detailed, 350-question written examination that consisted of various topics ranging from corporate policy and safety standards to common diagnostic and repair tasks as well as advanced topics relating to Daimler Trucks of North America products including Freightliner models and Detroit Diesel engines.

The five technicians with the highest cumulative scores will gather at the Truck Centers’ Troy, Ill. campus on September 9^th for their final skills competition. Each finalist will participate in hands-on modules that will challenge their diagnostic ability and professional expertise. The results will be announced during the company’s 40^th Anniversary Jubilee celebration on October 1^st.

The inaugural TCI Tech Challenge finalists are:

• Don Blaney representing TCI–Springfield with 21 years of service
• Mike Grawe representing TCI-Troy with 15 years of service next month
• Gabe Kline representing TCI-Morton with over 12 years of service
• James Krikie representing TCI-Mt. Vernon with nearly 10 years of service
• Rob McNees representing TCI-St. Louis with 23 years of service

Zach Brown from TCI-Springfield  was given special recognition as the highest finishing “Rookie” technician with less than two years of service.