Held July 11-13 in Rogers, Ark., this year’s Arkansas Trucking Championship event included a commercial vehicle inspection competition for Arkansas highway police, technician training fair, vendor exhibition, the aforementioned tech competition and a truck driving championship. The 16th annual tech contest included a written test and 14 hands-on stations for truck technicians and eight hands-on stations for trailer technicians, including air conditioning, brakes, tire and wheel analysis, FMCSA regulations, engines, and other skills technicians use every day on the job.
Doggett was named team champion at the event, while four associates also took home accolades for top positions in respective stations — first place, Aftertreatment; second place, Aftertreatment, Wheel End and PMI.
North Little Rock General Manager Brett Graves says this year’s success was the result of an enhanced corporate culture the facilities have experienced since joining Doggett Truck Group in 2018. Graves says North Little Rock was barely a participant in prior years but was dominant throughout this year’s competition. He says the eight technicians that competed at this year’s event are already eager for 2020, and other Doggett technicians also have shown interest in participating in the future.
“To see Arkansas’ best drivers and technicians all together for a few days, performing these tasks with expertise, skill, focus and precision is special,” says Shannon Newton, president, Arkansas Trucking Association. “They go back to their hometowns or to their regular routes across America with new friends in the industry and trophies, but we leave with a greater appreciation of the men and women who keep us safe on the highways while delivering our freight and caring for trucks and trailers.”
The Arkansas Trucking Association says high-performing technicians from the event will now have the opportunity to compete in the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) SuperTech national competition from Sept. 15-19, in Raleigh, N.C.
