Like our judges’ top pick for 2026 Best Young Diesel Tech, runner-up Kyle McDougal grew up in Northwest Arkansas. He also graduated from Northwest Technical Institute’s diesel program in Springdale just a few years after Crenshaw.

And over a decade later, McDougal, who turns 30 this month, still remembers the sage words from instructor Kent Chambers: “The truck’s telling you what’s wrong; you just have to know how to listen to it.”

He also listened to his gut when it came time to pick a landing spot after diesel school. After hearing good things about the City of Fayetteville's shop, McDougal chose the public fleet route, working on the critical equipment that ensures the health and safety of the area's residents for the last 10 years.

Even though it pays less than dealerships and big trucking companies, he couldn’t be happier, exclaiming, “It quickly became the best place I had worked!”

His fleet supervisor, Winston McGowan, is pretty happy about the hire, too. “From his first day on the job, Kyle demonstrated a rare combination of technical expertise, initiative, and dedication that set him apart from his peers. His ability to diagnose, repair, and maintain complex systems exceeded expectations and consistently reflected the highest professional standards.”

McDougal said the best parts of the job are being surrounded by a great team and working on “just about every piece of equipment you can imagine.”

He’s developed a close relationship with the fire crew, and hearing their stories puts his work into perspective. “It quickly makes you realize tracing wires down a frame rail isn’t that bad of a day to have considering what’s happening out there to others.”

McDougal admitted the responsibility of maintaining fire trucks does weigh on him, though it also motivates him to become better.

“I want them to have equipment that they can depend on day after day, and when problems do come up, I handle it as quickly as I can,” he said. “I’m always thinking about how I could improve my work to better meet the needs of the department.”

McGowan said McDougal is only one of three techs to hold active Master Heavy Truck ASE and Master Fire Emergency Vehicle Technician certifications and, paired with his thoughtful troubleshooting and preventive maintenance planning, has directly led to a 95% fire fleet availability rate in 2024 and 2025.

“Kyle’s efforts have directly contributed to the department’s ability to respond efficiently and effectively to emergencies,” McGowan noted, adding that, “Unlike many technicians, Kyle has not only developed exceptional diagnostic and mechanical skills but has also proven his ability to apply them under pressure where reliability directly impacts public safety.”  

McDougal said that the firefighters often drop by the shop to thank him, sometimes with food, he said. But the everyday challenges are what really fuel him.

"Fixing a problem I have no idea on where to start at has never slowed me down," he offered. "I just try to make a good guess and then learn from there until it finally rolls out of the shop. It's one of the best feelings in the world."

And even though McDougal did not come first in our Diesel Tech award program this year, his co-workers have voted him the city's Technician of the Year on several occasions, McGowan noted, explaining that the fire truck tech demonstrates "a rare combination of adaptability, initiative, and technical competence.

"This blend of quick comprehension and consistent execution distinguished him from others, making him a particularly valuable and dependable member of the team," the supervisor concluded.