More than 4,000 application tests were completed across the Rush Truck Centers’ service network by technicians to qualify for the company’s 2024 Tech Skills Rodeo this week in San Antonio.
That seems like a lot because it is, but those tests don’t represent every technician across the company’s vast network. Technicians across Rush’s more than 150 North American locations are not required to participate in the company’s annual competition, and some don’t.
For many long-time contest veterans, that decision is as baffling as it frustrating. The Rush Enterprises Tech Skills Rodeo is a contest, yes, but it’s also a celebration — of technical expertise, of Rush Truck Centers and trucking at large.
Now in its 19th year, the Tech Skills Rodeo continues to grow not only because it recognizes and rewards Rush’s best technicians. It’s also a darn good time, and one of the best gatherings of technical acumen in the trucking industry.
For technicians who’ve participated a lot, it’s an experience they look forward to each year.
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“The omelets stations — they really knock it out of the park with the food,” says Travis Webster, technician at Rush Truck Centers – Houston.
But Webster admits he doesn’t just come for breakfast. Even after more than a dozen Rodeos he says there’s no better place to grow as a technician.
“You’re going to learn something when you come here,” he says. “Whether it’s what you’re testing on or going through the trade show. You’re going to learn about new products. You’re going to learn about working on trucks.”
“My favorite part is honestly just meeting people from different locations and getting to talk to them about other issues they run into, diagnosing problems and things like that,” adds Chris Purcell, 2021 All-Around Grand Champion from Rush Truck Centers – Atlanta who is participating at the Rodeo for the seventh time. “There are a lot of top-notch techs here.”
This year’s contest has more than 240 participants across all disciplines, most of which are service oriented. All technicians across the Rush network are eligible to complete entry tests for the program each spring. Some technicians prefer to focus on singular areas of expertise, while others choose test in many areas to have a chance to compete at the program’s all-around title.
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It doesn’t matter what category gets a technician to San Antonio; program veterans say once a tech is onsite learning opportunities abound.
“You learn quite a bit when you’re here, between talking to people and just putting your hands on the stuff and participating. It’s quite extraordinary,” says Pieter Dezwart, technician at Rush Truck Centers – Doraville, Ga., who is participating in the Eaton-Cummins transmission discipline. Like Webster, Dezwart has attended more than a dozen Rodeos and still relishes the entire week.
“When you come here, you are part of an elite group that kind of outshines everything else,” he says. “You are interacting with the top technicians of the company. When I talk to these men and women, there’s a camaraderie that’s pretty interesting to me.”
The technicians also note sometimes those conversations can turn acquaintances into resources that make the entire Rush dealer service network stronger.
“There are a couple people I’ve reached out to [after meeting them here] thinking ‘Hey, maybe you’ve run across this issue I’m seeing,’” says Purcell. “That only works if you’re here.”
“I’ve asked questions to Peterbilt when I’ve been here before, talking to field service reps about things I’ve seen in the shop. It’s really helpful,” says Webster. “Other technicians will converse too and we’ll realize we have the same issue. Then we can try to figure it out here.”
Dezwart agrees. “We’re all seeing the same issues we deal with every day.”
The trio say they share that with their colleagues when their return home too. They say the social and monetary rewards of the event are great, but the ability to strengthen their expertise and careers are benefits they don’t think other techs can find elsewhere.
“I don’t know too many companies that do this,” says Webster.
