Earlier this spring, when the timer stopped and results were tallied, Abe Wall, URL Truck Centre, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, was honored as the winner of International Truck And Engine’s Technician Rodeo.
When I was invited to attend International’s Technician Rodeo, I immediately conjured images of Stetson-donning technicians, lassoing engines with aplomb, quick-draw torque wrench duels and rough suspension riding. When registering with the front desk person at International’s engine factory in Melrose Park, Ill., I gave my name and conspiratorially whispered, “I’m here for the rodeo.”
My attempt at clearance was met with confusion, but after a little clarification, I was ushered behind locked doors and into a large, industrial hall. To my left sat a row of game-faced, cream-of-the-crop technicians. In front of me, behind a large sign welcoming everyone to the rodeo, stood rows of curtained booths concealing trucks, evidenced only by the exhaust pipes peaking over the curtains like periscopes.
I listened as technicians were told that they would cycle through eight stations in 30 minute intervals. Behind each curtain (labeled with themes like “Preventive Maintenance” or “Brakes”), they would find a truck that had been rigged with a corresponding problem to be diagnosed. The technicians were urged to record everything on a repair order and the importance of proper documentation was stressed. Not only would it show the judges how the technician solved the problem at hand, but the notation also could be used to award partial credit if needed.
After stoically listening to the rules, the technicians were told to staff their first assigned stations and to wait for the “go.” As the technicians walked into the curtained hall, the silence was broken only by the clean squeak of their shoes on the cement floor. There was no pomp and circumstance, no rodeo theatrics; these men were all business.
They’re also some of the best in the business. The eight competitive technicians were all either ASE certified or Canadian-provincial certified in addition to Diamond certified, which is International’s own exhaustive certification program for its technicians.
John Koenig, manager, dealer education and development, International Truck And Engine Corporation said, “The technicians chosen for this competition have done all of the training and are at the top of their game.” He noted that the technicians present had undergone a rigorous testing process that involved self-study and the successful completion of a 100-question, 90-minute online test. From the results, the top eight scorers were pulled from across North America to Melrose Park for the company’s first Technician Rodeo.
While the technicians competed behind closed curtains, I discussed technician training and retention with Koenig and Vaughn Allen, vice president, product and customer support, International Truck And Engine. Both men underscored the importance of training programs, not just in keeping technicians up-to-date and efficient, but also as an invigorating workplace practice.
Allen described how bringing together products and people in an event such as this creates a healthy, competitive dynamic for technicians. No one, no matter what his job, thrives when he feels like he’s gained all the knowledge and skill necessary to do the job and now simply can coast. When people start sliding along, the workplace stagnates.
Wall, who was “elated” to win the competition, echoed this sentiment in a post-competition interview. Wall has a long history in heavy-duty repair work, but he cited the challenge of learning a new product as an exciting task. “My father was a heavy-duty mechanic,” he said. “Right after school I entered the trade and worked on equipment like forklifts and loaders. I did that for about 13 years then I moved and started working in the truck shop where I’ve been for a long time now.”
When asked what keeps him fresh and motivated, Wall said, “I like the challenge of a new product. There’s always new stuff to learn and new troubleshooting challenges. I enjoy that.”
Wall also attempts to take younger, more inexperienced technicians under his wing. “We have a lot of younger guys who come through the shop and I’ve been trying to take a teaching type of approach with them. I’m always available for information,” he said. “It was nice to see the large number of younger technicians in this competition. That’s a good thing.”
No matter what the field, creating a dynamic environment where employees feel motivated and appreciated stretches a lot farther than an extra dollar-assuming monetary compensation is reasonable, of course.
“Technicians often get overlooked because they don’t get all the perks that management or salespeople do,” said Koenig. “Events like this keep things interesting and keep technicians excited.”
Every shop, no matter how large or small, can find ways to combine learning and a dose of healthy rivalry. When the allure of good, old-fashioned competition is passed down through leaders like Wall to younger technicians, a sense of camaraderie is formed. It’s much harder to break ties or to coast when you feel that you still have a lot to learn and abundant knowledge to impart.
After the competition, Wall and his wife stayed in Chicago for a couple days, then it was back to work, but with well-polished bragging rights. I didn’t get to see any fancy hat tricks at the rodeo, but I did return to my desk with a much more profound appreciation for the expertise and knowledge today’s top technicians possess.
