The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council recognized Mark McLean Jr, Montgomery NY, as the nation’s top truck technician. He was selected TMCSuperTech 2013 grand champion at the council’s ninth annual National Technician Skills Competition, held September 9-11 in Pittsburgh PA.
McLean, a technician with FedEx Freight, was one of 129 technicians from across the country who competed in a day of qualifying written and hands-on testing. The top 112 scoring technicians then competed in the day-long skills challenge with 14 “hands-on” skills stations that tested an array or troubleshooting skills, general truck maintenance, electronic diagnostics applications, and safety and environmental practices. Scores from an ASE written test were added to the total skills challenge scores to determine the top truck techs.
“All of the competitors as this year’s TMCSuperTech competition deserve our congratulations, but none more so than Mark McLean, this year’s grand champion,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “While a tremendous amount of attention is paid to our industry’s drivers, and our industry’s driver shortage, we must not forget those technicians and mechanics who truly keep our industry rolling. Our industry needs more of skilled people like Mark and the 128 other competitors at TMCSuperTech.”
In addition to having the highest overall score, McLean also scored highest in two skills stations--Wheel End and Preventive Maintenance Inspection.
For his TMCSuperTech 2013 win, McLean received a trip for two to the Daytona 500 and a custom championship leather jacket from TMC, a Snap-On National Champion tool chest, a one-year subscription to Michell1’s Repair-Connect.net, a $10,000 Reliance Dream Shop cabinet stocked with fasteners and supplies along with a $5,000 credit for 12 months to keep it supplied using the latest micro bar code scanners, Noregon JPRO fleet diagnostic software and adapter valued at $3,000, a $1,000 gift card from International Truck/Navistar, a Midtronics EXP1000HD Battery/Electrical tester, a $500 gift certificate from Chicago Pneumatic, a LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies valued at $600, a $500 Stanley tool certificate, and a Replica truck from Tonkin to winner's company.
Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Boise ID, earned a second-place finish, along with a first-place in the Tire & Wheel skill station and a third place in the Drivetrain skill station. He received a trip for four to the 2014 running of the Brickyard 400 from BorgWarner, a $500 gift card from International Truck/Navistar, a Midtronics EXP1000HD Battery/Electrical tester, Noregon J-Pro software and adapter, and a LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies. The Brickyard 400 package includes round-trip airfare to Indianapolis IN, two rooms in the Omni Hotel for up to three nights, tickets to the races to be held on Friday and Saturday, escorted bus ride and tickets to the 2014 Brickyard 400 NASCAR Race on Sunday, welcoming reception on Friday evening, dinner with the group of Thermal Systems race fans, and at the BorgWarner hospitality suite at the races including beverages and snacks.
Third-place finisher Jeffrey Ostby, Fedex Freight, Spokane WA, also placed third in the Drivetrain skill station. He received four tickets to the Talladega 2014 Spring Race with three nights hotel accommodations in Birmingham AL, and $500 spending money, a $500 gift card from International/Navistar Truck, a Midtronics EXP1000HD Battery/Electrical tester, Noregon J-Pro software and adapter, and a LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies.
The 10th annual National Technician Skills Competition will be held during TMCs 2014 Fall Meeting, September 22-25, 2014, at the Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando FL. More information about TMC’s National Technician Skills Competition is available online at http://tmc.trucking.org.
