Truck Centers held its inaugural "Tech Challenge" competition recently, where 45 technicians from five locations competed.
In addition to the recognition of their abilities, participants are vying for over $5,000 in prizes including tool gift certificates and an all-expense paid trip to next year's "SuperTech" competition presented by the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations.

The program was implemented to highlight the knowledge and professional skills that the technicians bring to the Truck Centers' network of dealerships. The participants recently completed a detailed, 350-question written examination that consisted of various topics ranging from corporate policy and safety standards to common diagnostic and repair tasks as well as advanced topics relating to Daimler Trucks of North America products including Freightliner models and Detroit Diesel engines.

The five technicians with the highest cumulative scores will gather at the Truck Centers' Troy, Ill., campus on Sept. 9 for their final skills competition. Each finalist will participate in hands-on modules that will challenge their diagnostic ability and professional expertise. The results will be announced during the company's "40th Anniversary Jubilee" celebration Oct. 1.

The inaugural "TCI Tech Challenge" finalists are:

* Don Blaney representing TCI-Springfield with 21 years of service

* Mike Grawe representing TCI-Troy with 15 years of service next month

* Gabe Kline representing TCI-Morton with over 12 years of service

* James Krikie representing TCI-Mt. Vernon with nearly 10 years of service

* Rob McNees representing TCI-St. Louis with 23 years of service

TCI also recognized the highest finishing "Rookie" technician with less than two years of service, Zach Brown from TCI-Springfield.