Wal-Mart Technician wins TMCSuperTech2008.
Press Release Summary:
Defending his 2007 title as nation's top heavy-truck technician, David Bryan Lewis of Wal-Mart Transportation in Sutherland, VA, was again named grand champion of TMCSuperTech2008 during Technology and Maintenance Council's 2008 Fall Meeting. TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, developed national TMCSuperTech competition as a way to recognize truck technicians and to increase visibility of career opportunities available to them.
Original Press Release:
Wal-Mart Technician Wins TMCSuperTech2008
David Bryan Lewis Defends His Title, Wins Top Honor for Second Year
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 2 /-- David Bryan Lewis of Wal-Mart Transportation in Sutherland, Va., successfully defended his 2007 title as the nation's top heavy-truck technician as he was again named grand champion of TMCSuperTech2008 during the Technology & Maintenance Council's (TMC) 2008 Fall Meeting, held here Sept. 15-18.
Scott Bennett, Tacoma, Wash., and Michael Bogard, Neenah, Wis., -- both with Ryder System -- placed second and third in the competition conducted by TMC's Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC). Mr. Bogard had received the top score on the written portion of the competition the three previous years.
With six other contestants from Wal-Mart competing in the TMCSuperTech2008, a number of Wal-Mart supervisors and observers, and a room full of well-wishers, Mr. Lewis had plenty of supporters to cheer him on as he took the stage to receive his grand champion award, that included a NEXIQ Technologies' Snap-On Elite Series tool chest valued at approximately $10,000, an all-expense trip for two to the Daytona 500, a Panasonic Toughbook 19 laptop loaded with Noregon Systems' JPRO Fleet Service Kit, a custom-made championship leather jacket, along with other items.
Mr. Lewis, 45, of Amelia Court House, Va., said that although he had studied hard for the competition, it was much more challenging this year. "The most difficult part was the drivetrain station," he said. "We had looked at the Eaton Autoshift transmission, but I just hadn't put hands on that item. Until you use the software, it kind of scares you -- and when George (Arrants) hollers 'five minutes!' it really puts the icing on the cake." Mr. Arrants is the competition's chairman and official timekeeper for the event.
He said the HVAC and the engine skills stations were also a real challenge. "It seems like all the new stuff that is coming out, the manufacturers are putting into new components," said Mr. Lewis. "The engine station was difficult, too. It had the new (Detroit Diesel) DD-15 engine and I hadn't really worked on it." Although those two stations were tough for him (He scored an 85 on both.), he kept his calm and found his way through them using the available component manuals. "The book was laying there; you panic a little bit and then you think to pick up the book," he said.
Mr. Lewis works 12-hour shifts at Wal-Mart's maintenance facility south of Washington, D.C., where he and other Wal-Mart technicians who also participated in the TMCSuperTech competition help other techs improve their technical skills. "We do the in-house training, going though the basics for the younger techs and help them with proper component testing," said Mr. Lewis. "We also work with all of the drivers, taking care of their concerns and problems."
His grand champion title is something he likes to share with his shop mates and his friends at Southside Community College, Ft. Pickett, Va., where he graduated this past May. His degree with 116 credit hours came after numerous years of night classes. It now provides him with a diesel technical full certificate and automotive full certificate credentials.
He said he hopes to take more courses toward a bachelor degree, especially courses in human resources that would help him to be able to work in the training area.
Now Mr. Lewis just has the anxiety of living up to the expectation of winning Wal-Mart's national competition, to be held in Bentonville, Ark., Oct. 9-11. "The winner gets bragging rights for being the company's top technician," he said with a grin. The winner also receives an all-expense paid trip for two to Wal-Mart's safety dinner in December. "Plus," he said, "you and your wife get a special jacket that says 'Wal-Mart - Best of the Best.'"
Asked what he would do with the second Snap-On tool chest, Mr. Lewis said he would probably get a service truck body and install the chest in it to help him work on his farm vehicles and those of his neighbors.
In the meantime, he said he's happy to be doing what he's doing and able to learn from others. That's what it's all about, he said.
The remainder of the top-ten scoring contestants include: (4) Daniel Myers, Roberts Truck Center, Albuquerque, N.M.; (5) Randy Qualls, Wal-Mart Transportation, Waterloo, S.C.; (6) Timothy Peters, Ryder Systems, Newton, N.C.; (7) Christopher Barnett, Ryder System, Alpharetta, Ga.; (8) Bailey Johnson, McKee Foods, Stuarts Draft, Va.; (9) Thomas Pianalto, Diamond International Trucks, Lowelll, Ark; and (10) Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.
Skills station winners this year include the following:
-- Steering & Suspension -- Christopher Barnett, Ryder System, Alpharetta, Ga.;
-- Fastener & Fastener Repair -- Norbert Estrada, TravelCenters of America, Gary, Ind.;
-- Starting & Charging -- Dave Thrower, FedEx National LTL, Middletown, Pa.;
-- Drivetrain -- Michael Bogard, Ryder System, Neenah, Wis.;
-- PMI -- Richard Fasoli, Con-Way Freight, Southampton, Mass;
-- Brakes -- Norbert Estrada, TravelCenters of America, Gary, Ind;
-- Electrical -- Ken Myers - New York State Motor Truck Assn., Victor, N.Y.;
-- HVAC -- Thomas Pianalto - Diamond International Trucks, Lowelll, Ark;
-- Safety & Environmental -- Doug Skelly, First Vehicle Services, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
-- Service Information -- Kevin Schwarzbauer, Carolina International Trucks, Columbia, S.C.;
-- Repair Order Generation -- David Lewis, Wal-Mart Transportation, Amelia Court House, Va.;
-- Wheel End -- Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.;
-- Tire & Wheel -- Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Boise, Idaho; and
-- Engines -- Phillip Mellor, Swift Transportation, Albuquerque, N.M.
Gary Fassett, International Truck & Engine Corp., Murtaugh, Idaho, earned the top score on the written test.
The 121 contestants included eight state technician competition winners. Those included: Kevin Schwarzbauer, Carolina International Trucks, Columbia, S.C., representing the South Carolina Maintenance Council.; Loren White, Knife River - Western Oregon Div., Gaston, Oregon, representing the Oregon Trucking Assn. Maintenance Council; Edwin Lawrence, M&M Cartage, Louisville, Ky., representing the Kentucky Motor Transport Assn. -- Bluegrass Maintenance Council; George Russell, MHC Kenworth, Springdale, Ark., representing the Arkansas Maintenance & Technology Council; Ken Myers, Victor, N.Y., representing the New York State Motor Truck Assn.; Monty Dyer, Oklahoma City Freightliner, Mustang, Okla., representing the Oklahoma Trucking Assn. Maintenance Council; John Kennedy, Wal-Mart Transportation, Midway, Tenn., representing the Tennessee Maintenance Council.; and Mark Deen, Cummins Southern Plains, Arlington, Texas, representing the Texas Motor Transport Assn.
TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, developed the national TMCSuperTech competition as a way to recognize truck technicians and promote the career opportunities for heavy truck technicians. The competition is meant to showcase the skill and knowledge of trucking industry technicians, and to increase the visibility of career opportunities available for truck technicians.
"Given the pace of technological change, being a heavy-truck technician is truly one of the most challenging and skilled jobs in our economy," said Carl Kirk, TMC executive director. "The knowledge base that these folks have to master is truly amazing. It's entirely appropriate that TMC honors the creme de la creme of our industry."
This year, organizers within PTDC agreed to increase the number of hands-on skills stations from 12 to 14 this year -- adding fasteners, and safety & environmental stations -- and increase the number of competitors in the all-day Hands-On Skill Challenge from 84 to 96. This year, 121 technicians representing 40 companies took the written test to qualify for those 96 hands-on competition slots.
In addition to the two added skills stations, PTDC decided to add two pre-qualifying tests to the competition. One gave the technician a list of items that needed to be documented from the TMC Recommended Practices Manual, which is designed to give a specific yet generic approach to the repair process. The other pre-qualifier used a brake diagram with six scenarios on the provided worksheets to allow the technician to understand the flow of air throughout the air brake system. The goal was to have the technicians display their understanding of the brake system and what individual valves are doing during the operation of the vehicle.
The competition, in its fourth year, has drawn broad industry support and participation to recognize technicians and emphasize the importance of technician skills and education, and careers available for technicians in the commercial vehicle industry. That support for TMCSuperTech2008 was evident with the participation of 227 judges from 118 companies in addition to the 13 PTDC committee members.
"As a result of the many different workstations and judges that we work through to put on a competition of this magnitude, we are always concerned with the integrity of the process," said Lee Long, PTDC chairman and manager of fleet services for Southeastern Freight Lines. "That means that we hold our cards as close as possible and give all of the technicians the same, unbiased advantage."
The added skills stations and written tests extended the length of the test day and increase the physical and mental challenge for competitors. "The competition is grueling on the techs, but that is all a part of it," said Mr. Long. "Those that work well under pressure are the ones you want making the decisions about the proper repair process on the shop floor."
He said at the end of the day he heard comments from several of the competitors that they were exhausted. "In all fairness, I heard that from several judges as well," he added.
In addition to the donation of manpower, industry sponsors provided equipment, tools and awards. Freightliner and seven fleets donated the use of 36 Class 8 tractors and six converter dollies for the competition. NEXIQ Technologies' provided one of its Snap-on tool chest for the grand champion, Panasonic provided Toughbook 19 laptops valued at approximately $4,000 to the grand champion and each of the skills station winners. Noregon Systems provided its new JPRO Fleet Service Kits loaded on each of the Toughbooks. Each of the 96 finalists received an Apple iPod Touch, tools and other items, thanks to PTDC's Friend of the Technician sponsors.
First-, second-, and third-place winners in the Safety & Environmental skills station received safety compliance kit from the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair. Cengage Learning-Delmar & Chilton, which sponsored the Repair Order Generation skills station provided the winner with a $1,000.00 AMEX card. The top three competitors in the Engine skills station, received a Nexiq Diagnostic Link from Snap-On. The top winner of the Tire and Wheel skills station received a $1,000 gift certificate from Chicago Pneumatic.
"It's truly interesting to see all of the time donated by the PTDC committee and judges, their companies, and the support of the Friend of the Technician sponsors," said Joe Hite, TMC exhibit & sponsorship manager. "Working together is what make the competition such a success."
Friend of the Technician also helps fund ongoing efforts toward improving the image of truck technicians and attracting new technicians to the commercial vehicle industry. Friend of the Technician sponsorships include three levels - Platinum, Gold and Silver - which reflect annual sponsorship levels by companies, organizations or individuals at $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
Platinum-level sponsors include Fleet Maintenance Magazine, Noregon Systems, Panasonic. University of Northwest Ohio, WheelTime and Wyotech.
Gold-level sponsors include Arvin Meritor, Bridgestone Bandag, Cummins. FedEx, Haldex, Hendrickson, Nexiq Technologies, and Roadranger - Eaton & Dana.
Silver-level sponsors include the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Daimler Trucks North America, Donaldson Company, HD America, Interstate Battery Systems, The Penray Companies, USPS and Wal-Mart.
Skills station sponsors for TMCSuperTech2008 include:
Brakes - Brake Tech Tools;
Drivetrain -- Roadranger - Eaton & Dana;
Electrical -- Truck-Lite and Interstate Battery Systems;
Engines -- Long Rider Lubricants;
Preventive Maintenance Inspection (PMI) - Gates Corp.;
Service Information -- Whiting Systems;
Written Test -- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE);
Repair Order Generation -- Cengage Learning-Delmar & Chilton, and Decisiv;
Tire and Wheel -- Fleet Equipment Magazine and Travel Centers of America;
Wheel End -- Fontaine Trailer;
HVAC -- JB Hunt; and
Starting & Charging --Remy, Inc.
Truck Pride sponsored the "goodie bags" provided to the competitors.
Next year's competition, TMCSuperTech2009, will be held during TMC's 2009 Fall Meeting, Sept. 14-17, in Raleigh, N.C.
Information about TMCSuperTech, along with TMC's guide, "How to Conduct a Technician Skills Competition" are available on TMC's website, tmc.truckline.com/. For more information about the competition or becoming a Friend of the Technician sponsor, contact TMC at 703-838-1763.
TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, is North America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, technicians, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations. Find out more about TMC online at tmc.truckline.com/.
American Trucking Associations, the national trade association for the trucking industry, is a federation of affiliated state trucking associations, conferences and organizations that includes more than 37,000 motor carrier members representing every type and class of motor carrier in the country. ATA serves the interests of more than nine million people and 420,000 companies involved in trucking before Congress, the courts and regulatory agencies. http://www.truckline.com/
TMC Meeting Dates
TMC Internacional's 2008 Technical Users' Conference (Mexico)
Mexico City, Mexico
October 26-28 (Tentative)
TMC 2009 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
February 9-12
TMC 2009 Fall Meeting & National Technician Skills Competition
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
September 14-17
Contact: Marsh Galloway
913-498-2162
mgalloway@trucking.org
High resolution jpeg files of David Lewis, Scott Bennett and Michael Bogard are available from TMC's website at tmc.truckline.com/.
Other TMCSuperTech2008 photographs are available by contacting Marsh Galloway.
CONTACT: Marsh Galloway of American Trucking Associations Technology & Maintenance Council, +1-913-498-2162, mgalloway@trucking.org
Web Site: http://tmc.truckline.com/
http://www.truckline.com/
