RALEIGH, NC - First-time competitor Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb., was recognized today as the trucking industry's top technician after being named grand champion of the Technology & Maintenance Council's (TMC) 2010 National Technician Skills Competition, held this week in Raleigh, N.C.

Schlecht also earned the high score on two of the 14 hands-on skills stations that, along with a qualifying written test, comprised the two-day TMCSuperTech2010 competition. The competition was held in conjunction with TMC's 2010 Fall Meeting.

TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, created the competition to recognized and promote truck technicians on a national level

Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark., earned second place and John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kans., earned third.

The top-ten places included:

1. Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.;

2. Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.;

3. John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan.;

4. Michael Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Portland, Ore.;

5. Michael Bogard, Ryder System - Supply Chain Solutions, Nashville, Tenn.;

6. Richard Zacholl, Swift Transportation Co., N. Syracuse, N.Y.;

7. Bailey Johnson, McKee Foods Transportation, Stuarts Draft, Va.;

8. Christopher Barnett, Ryder System, Florence, Ky.;

9. Phillip Mellork Swift Transportation Co., Albuquerque, N.M.; and

10. Grant Cherry, Wal-Mart Transportation, Pilot Rock, Ore.

George Arrants, chairman of TMC's technician competition task force, said only 90 points separated the first- and tenth-place winners with 1,700 points possible. "It was a very tight competition," said Arrants. "The scores are both an indicator of how tough the test is and how highly skilled the technicians are."

Christopher Tate, champion of last year's competition, received the high score for the written test, administered to the 103 competitors vying for the 96 slots of the hands-on skills challenge.

Winners of the 14 skills stations that made up the hands-on skill challenge include:

• Suspension/Steering - John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan.;

• Fasteners - Jeremy Lipps, Batesville Logistics, Batesville, Ind.;

• Starting/Charging - Allen Davenport, FedEx Express, Brentwood, Tenn.;

• Drivetrain - Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.;

• Preventive Maintenance Inspection - Randy Qualls, Wal-Mart Transportation, Waterloo, S.C.;

• Electrical - Tyler Donnelly, Wal-Mart Transportation, Smyrna, Del.;

• Fifth Wheel - Jason Kleman, International Truck and Engine, Warrenville, Fla.;

• Trailer Alignment - John Ragland, FedEx Express, Kansas City, Kan.;

• Tire & Wheel - Christopher Tate, Mohawk Truck, West Seneca, N.Y.;

• Service Information - Jason Kleman, International Truck and Engine, Warrenville, Fla.;

• Repair Order - Jeffrey Schlecht, Omaha Truck Center, Norfolk, Neb.;

• Wheel End - Jerry Bodkins, TravelCenters of America, Salem, Ohio;

• Engine Hardware - Eric Vos, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.; and

• Engine Electronics - Mike McGuire, FedEx Freight, Harrison, Ark.

First-place prizes included a premium Snap-On tool chest, an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2011 Daytona 500, a Reliance Supply Dream Shop cabinet filled with supplies and fasteners, a Midtronics diagnostic tool set, a one-year subscription to Repair-Connect.net from Mitchell 1, and autographed collectors car from Jay Blake, Follow That Dream, sponsored by Permatex.

Second-place received hotel and transportation and four tickets for the 2011 Brickyard 400 from Borg-Warner, a $1,000 gift card from Copart, and a Midtronics diagnostic tool set. The third-place winner received a $500 gift card from Copart.

All skill stations winners received the Noregon JPRO Fleet Diagnostic Software Bundle JPRO DLA+ Adapter, valued at more than $3,000 each. Several workstations winners received additional prizes valued at more than $1,000.

TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, is North 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.truckline.com.