First-time competitor Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk NE, was recognized as trucking industry’s top technician after being named grand champion of the Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) 2010 National Technician Skills Competition, held in Raleigh NC recently.
Schlecht also earned the high score on two of the 14 hands-on skills stations that, along with a qualifying written test, comprised the two-day TMCSuperTech2010 competition. The competition was held in conjunction with TMC’s 2010 Fall Meeting. TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, created the competition to recognized and promote truck technicians on a national level.
Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison AR, earned second place and John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City KS, earned third. Also placing in the top 10 were:
4. Michael Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Portland OR 5. Michael Bogard, Ryder System–Supply Chain Solutions, Nashville TN 6. Richard Zacholl, Swift Transportation Company, North Syracuse NY 7. Bailey Johnson, McKee Foods Transportation, Stuarts Draft VA 8. Christopher Barnett, Ryder System, Florence KY 9.Phillip Mellork Swift Transportation, Albuquerque NM 10. Grant Cherry, Wal-Mart Transportation, Pilot Rock OR Christopher Tate, champion of 2009’s competition, received the high score for the written test, given to the 103 competitors vying for the 96 slots of the hands-on skills challenge.
Winners of the 14 skills stations that made up the hands-on skill challenge include:
•Suspension/Steering—John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City KS •Fasteners—Jeremy Lipps, Batesville Logistics, Batesville IN •Starting/Charging—Allen Davenport, FedEx Express, Brentwood TN •Drivetrain—Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk NE •Preventive Maintenance Inspection—Randy Qualls, Wal-Mart Transportation, Waterloo SC •Electrical—Tyler Donnelly, Wal-Mart Transportation, Smyrna DE •Fifthwheel—Jason Kleman, Internation Truck and Engine, Warrenville FL •Trailer Alignment — John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City KS •Tire & Wheel—Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca NY •Service Information—Jason Kleman, Navistar Inc, Warrenville IL •Repair Order—Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk NE •Wheel End—Jerry Bodkins, TravelCenters of America, Salem OH •Engine Hardware—Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison AR •Engine Electronics—Mike McGuire, FedEx Freight, Harrison AR