As part of its efforts to continue its commitment to recognizing technician excellence, Navistar recognized two dealer technicians at its Top Team competition during the company’s 2024 Service Solutions Expo last week in Kissimmee, Fla.
Ten International Truck and IC Bus Master and Diamond Certified technicians from across North America competed over two days in a series of skills-based contests focused on diagnostics, repairs and maintenance. Dan Myers of Roberts Truck Center in Albuquerque, N.M., took home first place in the Bus Division, while Thomas Pianalto of Rush Truck Centers in Lowell, Ark., placed first in the Truck Division.
Myers is Diamond Certified technician with 28 years of experience. He knew at a young age that he wanted to turn his passion for working on vehicles into a profession.
“This is an awesome experience,” Myers said. “I like to do the competition just to keep myself up on all the current trends and see how I compare to other people. I am always trying to better myself and do the best job that I can. This is a good opportunity to showcase that and compare it with other people.”
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Pianalto is a Master Certified technician, who was surrounded by technicians early on in his life, as he grew up helping his father and uncles at their body shop. He has 36 years of experience.
“When I finish a competition, I look back on what I did and feel like I could always improve,” Pianalto said. “I always learn from an event like this. For technicians, having the ability to come and do something like this means a lot. The key is to never stop learning.”
The Top Team competition was introduced last year and gives service technicians the opportunity to display their skills, knowledge, and professionalism as they safely and efficiently diagnose and repaire different systems in mobile or stationary equipment, Navistar says.
“Our dealer network is working diligently to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and reduce overall repair complexities, and our technicians are a key part of these changes,” says Fabio Souza, executive vice president, Service Solutions. “Both Dan and Thomas have been key to their dealerships to achieve these goals and continue to drive the efficiency of their service teams forward.”
