TA Truck Service technicians show off their skills in the bays, roadside and at our customer’s distribution centers every day, but on Sept. 17 and 18 a team of 15 technicians from TA Truck Service sites across the country took their talents to the biggest stage in the industry – the annual TMC SuperTech and TMC FutureTech competitions.
What is TMC SuperTech?
TMC SuperTech brings the best of the best diesel mechanics from U.S. original equipment manufacturers, trucking companies and repair facilities together for two grueling days of written tests and hands-on skills challenges. At the end of the competition, scores determined by industry expert judges are tallied to distinguish overall tractor and trailer category winners and champions in each station.
While the ASE Master Technicians compete at SuperTech, student technicians show what they’ve learned as well, at the affiliated TMC FutureTech competition.
Meet the TA Truck Service Team
This year, the TA Truck Service TMC team, comprised of ASE Master Technicians Joseph Anderson, Robert Anderson, Michael Clark, Scott Davidson, Chris Dewick, Michael Gavrielides, James Hawkins, Michael (JR) Kerfoot, John Kidd, Jason Lott, Aaron Schreckengast, Benjamin Sando and Terry White, along with student technicians Grayson Wilkes and Tharon Lindekugel, had their best finish yet. Team members won first and third place overall in the trailer competition category, along with winning a combined 19 tractor and trailer stations at the annual event.
See all the winners below:
Tharon Lindekugel (Student), TA Sparks, Nevada
Trailer Lighting station champion, FutureTech
Grayson Wilkes (Student), TA Nashville, Tennessee
TMC FutureTech eighth overall
RP Manual station champion, FutureTech
Trailer Lighting station champion, FutureTech
Joseph Anderson, TA Commerce, Georgia
Trailer Lighting station champion, Heavy Duty Truck Track
Ben Sando, TA Lodi, Ohio
Trailer SuperTech tenth overall
Michael Gavrielides, TA Madison, Georgia
Heavy Duty Truck SuperTech ninth overall
Electric Meters station champion, Heavy Duty Truck Track
Tire and Wheel station champion, Heavy Duty Truck Track
Robert Anderson, TA Mobile, Alabama
Trailer SuperTech fifth overall
7 Way Pin/Receptacle station champion, Trailer Track
Hydraulics station champion, Trailer Track
Trailer Lighting station champion, Trailer Track
Scott Davidson, TA Madison, Wisconsin
Trailer SuperTech third overall
Trailer Tech Written Test station champion, Trailer Track
Trailer ABS station champion, Trailer Track
Torque station champion, Trailer Track
Michael Kerfoot (JR), Petro San Antonio, Texas
Trailer SuperTech first overall
Central Tire Inflation station champion, Trailer Track
Electric Corrosion station champion, Trailer Track
Electrical Circuits station champion, Trailer Track
Roll Up Doors station champion, Trailer Track
Trailer Wheel End station champion, Trailer Track
Liftgates station champion, Trailer Track
Precision Measuring station champion, Trailer Track
These wins complement the many titles that TA Truck Service technicians have claimed since first competing at TMC SuperTech in 2005, at the competition’s inception. In addition to dominating at TMC SuperTech, TA Truck Service technicians also compete at the state level throughout the year. This year, 65 technicians from 40 TA Truck Service facilities competed in 14 state competitions, with three winning first overall in their state, eight finishing second or third in their state and 44 winning stations.
Training for Success
Their success is a testament to their training. On average, 1,600 technicians, managers and repair shop staff receive training at one of two TA Truck Service training facilities located in Lodi, Ohio and Eloy, Arizona each year.
Check out the slideshow below for some highlights from this year’s competition, or stop by our nearest TA Truck Service location to see our technicians in action.