American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council announced that Phillip Pinter, a technician with FedEx Freight from Ida, Michigan, was named the 2018 National Technician Skills Competition – TMC SuperTech – Grand Champion.
Pinter bested 95 other finalists in the TMCSuperTech heavy duty division to claim the title of Grand Champion. In addition, Ferris State University student technician Ian Partak won the TMCFutureTech National Student Technician Competition sponsored by the TechForce Foundation.
Travel Centers of America technician Michael Kerfoot placed first in the competition’s trailer track and FedEx Freight’s Troy Rispoli claimed the first-ever title in the light and medium duty vehicle competition.
“The competitors at TMCSuperTech and TMCFutureTech are a shining example of professional excellence for our entire industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “I want to congratulate Phillip, Ian, Michael, Troy as well as all of their colleagues and classmates and all of the competitors who demonstrated their immense skills at the competition, and I want to thank them all for what they do to keep our trucks moving.”
FedEx Freight continued its dominance of the TMCSuperTech Team competition, claiming its sixth consecutive title behind Doug Nickels and Matt Sloan who finished third and fifth individually. FedEx Freight technicians swept the top seven places in the competition, and claimed 12 of the top 20 spots in the heavy duty competition.
“For 14 years, TMC has tried to shine a light on the professionalism and dedication of our industry’s technicians through TMCSuperTech, and once again we have seen these men and women perform exceptionally – especially Phillip, Ian, Michael, Troy and all our station winners,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “At a time when we are desperately looking to recruit and retain talent, all of our TMCSuperTech and TMCFutureTech competitors – but especially our winners give us all a standard to strive for so congratulations to them.”
This year, 125 technicians from around the country competed for the title of TMCSuperTech Grand Champion alongside 32 students in the TMCFutureTech National Student Technicians Skills Competition sponsored by the TechForce Foundation.
“Right now, there is no better time to get into this industry,” Braswell said. “It is an exciting time to become a diesel engine or truck technician – and with a shortage of qualified technicians, it is our hope that by shining a spotlight on the skill and expertise of these fine men and women, more people – especially young people will consider trucking as a career path.”
In conjunction with the competition, TMC held its annual Fall Meeting looking at issues ranging from the industry’s readiness to handle complex modern electrical systems, recruiting and retaining technicians and a whole host of questions facing the trucking industry.
