Top service technician wrangles glory at 2008 Navistar Rodeo

Per E. Meling of White’s International Trucks in Greensboro, N.C., has been named the winner of the second annual Navistar Service-Technician Rodeo.

The rodeo, held at Universal Technical Institute in Glendale Heights, Ill., featured the top eight service technicians from International dealerships across North America in a competition designed to test their skills in eight key areas of commercial truck servicing. Competition stations included mock service areas for air conditioning, brakes, drive train, electrical and preventative maintenance. Station areas also were dedicated to I-6, V-8 and V-6 engines.

“Per E. Meling demonstrated the highest knowledge and skill and was honored as the winner,” said Vaughn Allen, vice president, product and customer support, Navistar, Inc. “Each of the technicians went head-to-head in a hands-on test of their technical skill and speed. Throughout the day their training was put to the test as they navigated their way through vehicle issues at eight stations where they diagnosed and fixed problems.”

Technicians involved in the competition are either ASE certified or Canadian-provincial certified in addition to Diamond certified, Navistar’s official certification program for its service technicians. Participants were selected from an overall group of the top 340 technicians at International dealerships. Those 340 were narrowed down through online testing, and the highest-scoring technicians in each region of the U.S. and Canada were selected for the rodeo.

“Those participating in this competition have completed all the required and optional training and are at the top of their game,” said Etienne Van Niekerk, service education manager, Navistar, Inc. “They represent our 8,000-plus service technicians from International dealerships, the highest number of any medium/heavy commercial-truck manufacturer.”

Technicians from the following dealerships competed in the rodeo:

    * Eastcoast International Trucks in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    * Hunter's Truck Sales in Smithfield, Pa.
    * Lake City Trucks in Twin Falls, Idaho
    * Les Camions Beaudoin in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
    * Regional International in Geneva, N.Y.
    * Mid-State Truck Service in Plover, Wis.
    * White’s International Trucks in Greensboro, N.C.
    * Roberts Truck Center, Albuquerque, N.M.

Navistar’s International® dealer network has more than 900 dealer locations and 8,000 service technicians. “With the largest dealer network in the industry, International dealers service trucks nearly anywhere, anytime,” Van Niekerk said. “The ability of International dealers to repair vehicles right the first time and get customers back on the road is a key business advantage.”