Christopher Barnett, Ryder System, Named TMCSuperTech 2012 Champion

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council recognized Christopher Barnett, Hebron, Ky., as the nation's top truck technician as he was named TMCSuperTech 2012 grand champion at the council's 2012 National Technician Skills Competition, held Sept. 10-12 in Pittsburgh.

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Barnett, a senior technician with Ryder System, was one of 114 technicians from across the country to compete in a day-long test with 17 "hands-on skills stations that tested an array or troubleshooting skills, general truck maintenance, electronic diagnostics applications, and safety and environmental practices. Although, Barnett did not receive the top score for any individual skill station, his consistent high scores in each tested event placed him in first place for the overall competition score.

Although he did not participate last year, Barnett competed in the TMC competition the previous four years, earning a third-place in 2009. He said, "It seemed like everything went a lot smoother this year — after every station, I thought, 'I did okay.' Years past, I would walk away thinking I really messed that one up."

A 2002 graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio's (UNOH) diesel technology program, Barnett holds numerous certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. His shop of 14 technicians regularly maintains 280-300 trucks and tractors.

Barnett is no stranger to technician competitions. He participated in his first during high school and later won the air conditioning station in the first technician competition held by UNOH while he was a student there. Since going to work for Ryder, he has participated and placed in numerous regional and national corporate competitions, including a first-place in 2008 that netted him a 2009 Dodge Ram four-wheel drive pickup powered by a 6.7 liter Cummins diesel.

For his TMCSuperTech 2012 win, Barnett received a trip for two to the Daytona 500 and a custom championship leather jacket from TMC, a a Snap-On National Champion tool chest, a one-year subscription to Michell1's Repair-ConnectNet, a Reliance Dream Shop cabinet stocked with fasteners and supplies along with a $100 credit per month for 12 months to keep it supplied, a Noregon JPRO fleet diagnostic software and adapter valued at $3,000, a $1,000 gift card from International Truck/Navistar, a Midtronics EXP-1000HD Battery/Electrical tester, a $500 gift certificate from Chicago Pneumatic, and a Replica truck from Tonkin to winner's company

John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan, repeated his second-place win from last year and received a trip for four to the 2013 running of the Brickyard 400 from BorgWarner, a Snap-On rolling tool cabinet, $500 gift card from International Truck/Navistar, a Midtronics EXP1000HD Battery/Electrical tester, and a Noregon J-Pro software and adapter.

Third-place finisher Chris Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y., received a $500 gift card from International/Navistar Truck, a $500 tool certificate from Mac Tools, a Midtronics EXP1000HD Battery/Electrical tester and a Noregon J-Pro software and adapter. 

The additional top ten finishers for TMCSuperTech 2012 are:

4.      Michael John Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines;
5.      Robert Gonzalez, Ryder System;
6.      Eric M. Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.;
7.      Michael Bogard, Ryder System, Nashville, Tenn.;
8.      Timothy Peters, Ryder System;
9.      Mark McLean Jr., FedEx Freight; and
10.   Joseph P. Calaway, Walmart Transportation.

Skill station winners are:

Written Test — Alan Davenport, FedEx Express;
Electrical — Randy Qualls, Walmart Transportation;
Brakes — Timothy Sloan, FedEx Freight;
Engine (Electronics) — Alan Davenport, FedEx Express;
Engine (Hardware) — David Berdovich, Ryder System;
HVAC — Donald Warman, Travel Centers of America;
Steering/Suspension — Robert Gonzalez, Ryder System;
Starting/Charging — Michael Bogard, Ryder System;
Trailer Alignment — Troy Hiatt, FedEx Freight;
Drivetrain — Jason Kleman, Navistar;
Tire & Wheel — David Berdovich, Ryder System;
Fifth Wheel — Rudy Laguna, H-E-B Grocery Co.;
PMI — Mitchell Buelow, FedEx Freight;
Wheel End — Bryan David Lewis, Walmart Transportation;
Service Information — Michael Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines;
Repair Order — Eric Vos, FedEx Freight;
Fasteners — Darrell Duggan, Walmart Transportation; and
Safety & Environmental — Glenroy Schad, Con-way

TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, created the competition through its Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC) to recognize and promote truck technicians. In addition to the competition, held in conjunction with the council's 2012 Fall Meeting, technicians participated in PTDC's Technician Training Fair that included six technical sessions, each eligible for continuing education credit through the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

TMC is America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations. Find out more about TMC online at http://tmc.trucking.org.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations