FedEx Freight technician crowned TMCSuperTech 2013 Grand Champion

The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) has recognized Mark McLean Jr., a technician at FedEx Freight's Montgomery, N.Y., facility as the nation's top truck technician. He was named TMCSuperTech 2013 Grand Champion at TMC's ninth annual National Technician Skills Competition, held last week in Pittsburgh.

McLean was one of 129 technicians from across the country that competed in a day of qualifying written and hands-on testing. Nineteen of those competitors were the winners of their state's maintenance council SuperTechs.

The top 112 scoring technicians then competed in the day-long skills challenge with 14 "hands-on" skills stations that tested an array of 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 technicians.

In addition to having the highest overall score, McLean also scored highest in two skills stations: Wheel End and Preventive Maintenance Inspection.
TMC is America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry.

Congratulations to all

"All of the competitors at this year's TMCSuperTech competition deserve our congratulations, but none more so than Mark McLean, this year's grand champion," said American Trucking Associations (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 other competitors at TMCSuperTech."

ATA is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.

Prizes

For his TMCSuperTech 2013 win, McLean received:

A trip for two to the Daytona 500.
A custom championship leather jacket from TMC.
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.
An LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies valued at $600.
A $500 Stanley tool certificate.
A Replica truck from Tonkin to the winner's company.

Runner-ups

Eric Vos, a technician with FedEx Freight, Boise, Idaho, earned a second-place finish. He took first-place in the Tire & Wheel skill station and 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, 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 in the TMCSuperTech2013 was Jeffrey Ostby. Also with FedEx Freight, he works at the company's Spokane, Wash, facility. He placed third in the Drivetrain skill station.

Ostby received four tickets to the Talladega 2014 Spring Race with three nights hotel accommodations in Birmingham, Ala., 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 an LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies.

Other top finishers

The additional top ten finishers for TMCSuperTech 2013 are:
4. Derek Southerland, FedEx Freight, Knoxville, Tenn.
5. Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.
6. Christopher F. Barnett, Ryder System, Crittenden, Ky.
7. Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.
8. Joseph P. Calaway, Walmart Transportation, Jonesville, Mich.
9. Jonathan R. Berg, FedEx Freight, Roseville, Minn.
10. David Bryan Lewis, Walmart Transportation, Amelia Court House, Va.

Fourth and fifth-place finishers received Noregon J-Pro software and adapter and an LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies. Sixth through 10th received an LED torque wrench from Imperial Supplies.

Skill station winners

Skill station winners for the top three places are:

Written Test: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.; Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, S.C.; and Matthew Weiman, Ryder System, Payson, Ill.
HVAC: Robert Gonzalez, Ryder System, Plant City, Fla.; Ray Wordekemper, Omaha Truck Center, Omaha; and Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, S.C.
Starting/Charging: Randall Hilburn, Swift Transportation, Oklahoma City; James D. Kirtley, TravelCenters of America, Fountain City, Ind.; and Jose Flores, Swift Transportation Company, Lathrop, Calif.
Steering & Suspension: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.; Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, S.C.; and Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.
Engine Hardware: Bryan Seaton, Walmart Transportation, Greeneville, Tenn.; Joseph P. Calaway, Walmart Transportation, Jonesville, Mich.; and Eric Shumway, Penn CVS/Wheel Time, York Haven, Pa.
Fifth Wheel: David Bryan Lewis, Walmart Transportation, Amelia Court House, Va.; Matthew Weiman, Ryder System, Payson, Ill.; and Richard Fasoli, Con-way Freight, Southampton, Mass.
Electrical 2: Darrell Duggan, Walmart Transportation, Grantsville, Utah; Jason Kleman, Mid State Truck Service, Plover, Wis.; and Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.
Tire & Wheel: Eric M. Vos, Fedex Freight, Boise, Idaho; Richard Fasoli, Con-way Freight, Southampton, Mass.; and Jonathan R. Berg, FedEx Freight, Roseville, Minn.
Wheel End 2: Mark McLean Jr., Fedex Freight, Montgomery, N.Y; Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.; and Mitchell Buelow, FedEx Freight, Fremont, Ind.
Service Information: Tommy A. Schneider, Links Logistics, Keenesburg, Colo.; Jason Kleman, Mid State Truck Service, Plover, Wis.; and Richard Fasoli, Con-way Freight, Southampton, Mass.
Brakes: Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation, Laurens, S.C.; Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.; and David Bryan Lewis, Walmart Transportation, Amelia Court House, Va.
Engine Electronics: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.; Matthew Weiman, Ryder System, Payson, Ill.; and Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.
Liftgate: Richard M. Davis, NationaLease, St. Louis; Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.; and Jonathan R. Berg, FedEx Freight, Roseville, Minn.
Drivetrain: Glenroy Schad, Con-way Freight, Phoenix; Fedex Freight, Spokane, Wash.; and Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Boise, Idaho.
PMI: Mark McLean Jr., Fedex Freight, Montgomery, N.Y.; Joseph P. Calaway, Walmart Transportation, Jonesville, Mich.; and David Berdovich, Ryder, Valparaiso, Ind.

PTDC

TMC created the competition through its Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC) to recognize and promote truck technicians. In addition to the competition, held in conjunction with the TMC's annual Fall Meeting, technicians participated in PTDC's Technician Training Fair that included four technical sessions, each eligible for continuing education credit through the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

The 10th annual National Technician Skills Competition will be held during TMC's 2014 Fall Meeting, Sept. 22 to 25, at the Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla.