Competition Begins at 11th Annual TMCSuperTech Truck Technician Contest

Two-Day Event will Crown Grand Champion

ORLANDO, FL -- Sept. 21, 2015: Today, 145 truck technicians began their quest to be named Grand Champion at the 11th annual TMCSuperTech, held here at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.

The National Technician Skills Competition is being held this week in conjunction with American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council 2015 Fall Meeting.

"We started TMCSuperTech more than a decade ago to highlight the skills of this too often underappreciated group of individuals," said Carl Kirk, vice president of maintenance, information technology & logistics of American Trucking Associations. "This year, we're excited not just to honor the many experienced technicians in the competition, but to look to the future with our second-ever student challenge."

The TMCSuperTech 2015 competition will take place over two days – with technicians qualifying on 12 stations today and then dealing with 14 hands-on challenges. This year, the competition also features a student challenge, letting aspiring truck technicians still in school test their mettle alongside some of the country's most experienced and skilled individuals in the field.

"During the competition, these technicians will be displaying the skills they use every day at their jobs," said George Arrants, chairman of TMC's technician competition task force. "Since we began this program, fleets have reported to us that maintenance costs have dropped, overtime costs have dropped and on-road breakdowns have dropped."

TMCSuperTech 2015 began this morning with written tests and qualifying tasks, before moving to tomorrow's full battery of hands-on challenges. The student competition, TMCFutureTech, sponsored by Velociti, featuring 38 students from around the country, will take place exclusively on Tuesday. Top competitors at each skill station and a grand champion will be announced Wednesday.

Registration for TMCs 2015 Fall Meeting is available on site and online at Trucking.