After six years of competing at TMCSuperTech, Wesley Salley finally reached the top, earning the title of 2026 Grand Champion at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s National Technicians Skills Competition.

A senior technician with FedEx Freight from Round Rock, Texas, Salley has been working toward the title for years and said the studying did more than win him the competition.

“Winning TMCSuperTech has been a personal goal since I started competing about six years ago,” he said. “It is definitely a defining moment in my almost 20-year career. Professionally, the information I've learned while studying has been invaluable for day-to-day maintenance and repair at work."

When a repair issue or station is unfamiliar, Salley said the first step is understanding the system before trying to diagnose it.

“Some issues are repeat occurrences that can be knocked out quickly due to familiarity, but fresh problems require researching whatever system it is to understand how it works," he explained. "You can't fix something if you don't know how it functions.”

That approach ties into one of the biggest lessons he has taken from his years in the shop:

“Throughout my career I've learned that sometimes knowing how to find information is just as much or more important than knowing that information or a certain spec off the top of your head," Salley said.

That need for information has only grown as trucks have become more interconnected, and Salley said the tools techs rely on to diagnose those vehicles have changed along with the technology.

“Modern over-the-road trucks are so much more complex than they were when I started wrenching professionally," he said. "The most important tool in today's technician's toolbox is not a ratchet or a wrench; it's a laptop with up-to-date diagnostic software.”

For technicians looking to continue developing their skills, the Grand Champ's advice is straightforward: keep learning and keep the information fresh.

“To anyone who has competed at or is looking to compete at the SuperTech level, never stop learning," he offered. "Read the service procedures and review the technical specifications for every job that you do, even if you're already familiar with it, just to keep that information fresh in your mind.”

FedEx Freight took the other two spots on the podium as well, with 2019 Grand Champion Kelby Bentley finishing second and Mitchell Buelow placing third. The company also won the team competition with Buelow and Salley.

In TMCFutureTech, Corbin White of the University of Northwestern Ohio took first, followed by Madison Boone of Forsyth Technical Community College and Jeffrey Jackson of Francis Tuttle Technology Center.

Here’s the full list of station and overall winners:

TMCSuperTech 2026 Skills Station Winners (Professional Track)

• ASE Written Test: Jose Feliciano - Feliciano Fleet Services
• RP Manual: Brian Climes - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
• Lubricants & Fuels: Kevin DaCosta - Publix Super Markets, Inc.
• Electronic Engine Diagnostics: Matthew Sloan - FedEx Freight
• Electrical Circuits: Caleb Walcott - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
• Fasteners: Wesley Salley - FedEx Freight
• Trailer Lighting: Kelby Bentley - FedEx Freight
• Tire & Wheel: Jamie Smith - FedEx Freight
• ADAS: Brian Climes - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
• Wheel End: Eric Vos - FedEx Freight
• Brakes: Garrett Deziel - TravelCenters of America
• Liftgates: Steven Layton - TravelCenters of America
• Service Information: Michael Krause - Clarke Power Services, Inc.
• Remote Diagnostics: Brian Climes - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
• Starting & Charging: Steven Layton - TravelCenters of America
• Steering & Suspension: Zachery Moritz - Transwest Truck
• Wiring Diagrams: Michael Krause - Clarke Power Services, Inc.
• Electric Vehicle Safety: Steven Layton - TravelCenters of America
• Fifth Wheel: Eric Vos - FedEx Freight
• Trailer Electrical Corrosion: Christopher Cooper - TravelCenters of America

SuperTech Top Finishers

• Grand Champion: Wesley Salley - FedEx Freight, Inc.
• 2nd Place: Kelby Bentley - FedEx Freight, Inc.
• 3rd Place: Mitchell Buelow - FedEx Freight, Inc.
• Team Champion: Mitchell Buelow & Wesley Salley - FedEx Freight

Team Order of Finish

• 1st: FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
• 3rd: TravelCenters of America
• 4th: Clarke Power Services, Inc.
• 5th: Cox Fleet

TMCFutureTech 2026 Skills Station Winners

• ASE Written Test: Jeffrey Jackson - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.
• RP Manual: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Lubricants & Fuels: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Coolants & DEF: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Electrical Circuits: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Fasteners: Brody Lankford - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Trailer Lighting: Jake Faulker - Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Tire & Wheel: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• ADAS: Brody Lankford - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Wheel End: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Brakes: Corbin White - University of Northwestern Ohio
• Liftgates: Jacinto Arredondo - Western Technical College
• Trailer Electrical Corrosion: Jeffrey Jackson - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.
• Service Information: Simeon Erdner - WyoTech
• Starting & Charging: Corbin White - University of Northwestern Ohio
• Steering & Suspension: Brody Lankford - Forsyth Technical Community College
• Central Tire Inflation: Austin Allen - Des Moines Area Comm. College
• Trailer PMI: Nicholas Clay - Baton Rouge Community College
• Rollup Doors: Jake Faulker - Pennsylvania College of Technology
• HVAC: Corbin White - University of Northwestern Ohio

FutureTech Top 3 Overall

• 1st: Corbin White - University of Northwestern Ohio
• 2nd: Madison Boone - Forsyth Technical Community College
• 3rd: Jeffrey Jackson - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.