For the 10th year in a row, Rush Enterprises (www.rushenterprises.com) put on its Annual Tech Skills Rodeo – an event intended to help with the continuous improvement of its technicians, recognize their importance to the company and help with their retention.
Rush, which touts itself as the “the premier solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry,” owns and operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the U.S., representing truck and bus manufacturers, including Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu, Ford, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus and Blue Bird and Elkhart Coach. The company’s has more than 120 locations in 21 states.
The Rodeo is one part of Rush Enterprises business philosophy of maintaining long-term tenure of employees and building pride in the workforce and workplace, explains Rusty Rush, company president, CEO and chairman of the board.
The technician is extremely important to the dealership, he says. A dealer sells a truck one time but works on its countless times, and it is important to recognize technicians for the job that they do.
That is one of the reasons the Tech Skills Rodeo came about.
To the Rodeo
Rush’s nearly 2,500 technicians – about one-third of Rush’s dedicated employees – have the opportunity to compete in the Rodeo by taking written exams based on completing training and continuous education requirements. More than 3,000 exams were taken by technicians.
The top 163 semi-finalists went on to the Rodeo which was held in San Antonio, TX, earlier this week.
The two-day event involves both written and hands-on skills test stations. There are also supplier training sessions that competitors need to participate in, plus a trade fair for suppliers and Rodeo sponsors to showcase the products, services and offerings.
The Rodeo event has a budget of more than $1 million.
Mike Besson, vice president, dealer operations, Rush Enterprises, says this was largest Rodeo so far.
Categories
Rodeo competition categories were:
- Heavy Duty, Cummins.- Heavy Duty, Eaton.
- Heavy Duty, Paccar MX.
- Heavy Duty, Navistar Engine.
- Medium Duty, Hino.
- Medium Duty, Isuzu.
- Medium Duty, Peterbilt.
- Medium Duty, International.
- Specialty, Go Green.
- Specialty, Bus.
- Specialty, Refuse.
- Collision, Body Repair.
- Collision, Paint Repair.
- Parts, Paccar.
- Parts, International.
- Parts, Hino.
- Parts, Isuzu.
- Parts, Ford.
Total winnings for the top three performing technicians in each category, depending on the category and their ranking, ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, plus numerous prizes. Grand and Reserve Champions’ total winnings ranged from $8,300 to $15,600, plus an assortment of prizes.
The All Around Rodeo Champion took home $21,900, plus numerous prizes.
New category
Added to the Tech Skills Rodeo for the first time was the Rising Star competition for Level 1 and 2 technicians.
It is an entry level competition to expose Rush’s “up and coming technicians” to the event and allow them to compete among their peers, Besson explains. “This will give them a taste of the Rodeo and encourage continuous education and assist in advancing their career path.”
Also a two-day event, the Rising Star competitors tested in 11 level-specific preventive maintenance-specific areas.
Banquet
The winners of the Rodeo were announced at a dinner banquet on 12/15/15.
Honored as the All Around Grand Champion was Travis Graham, Rush Truck Center (RTC) Orlando. He also was the Heavy Duty Grand Champion.
Medium Duty Grand Champion was Dustin Ebert, RTC Phoenix. Parts Grand Champion was David Zainfeld, RTC Houston.
Blake Fondren of Rush Truck Leasing, Birmingham, won honored as the Rising Star champion. He won $3,000 in cash plus received a tool chest and an assortment of tools.
Rusty Rush was on hand to present the winnings and prizes to the top-performing technicians. Besson served as the master of ceremonies for the banquet which also featured entertainment.
Helping Rush present the awards All-Around Grand Champion Graham was Clint Bowyer, driver of the Stewart-Hass Racing #14 Chevy SS, which RTC sponsors.
Additional photos
A gallery of photos from 10th Annual Tech Skills Rodeo can be viewed online here.
