July 2023 TEchnIcIan of InfluEncE WInnErS
International® is pleased to announce the four winners of the Technician of Influence Award for the month of July. The individuals listed here have demonstrated their commitment to pursuing continuous improvement and delivering the highest level of customer service.
ROOKIES
These tech professionals have less than two years of experience at the dealership, have shown commitment to Uptime by being top producers, have gone the extra mile, and have proven they are responsible and trustworthy.
Apprentice Technician
Camille is a hard-working woman, dedicated to giving her best every time. She comes from a school with an automotive program and has embraced the truck business with all her heart and soul. She tries to make the best of the hours available in a day to get the truck back to the customer. She works as if she were a part owner of the dealer, getting involved in the process of making everything better and growing together as a team.
She started as an apprentice at International Rive-Nord in 2022, hired as a part-time student / worker who managed to complete all her training while going to school. She was paired with one of our best accel bay and diagnostic techs for 6 months and now she is on her own. She chooses the night shift to be able to progress faster and, at the same time, help the dealer and her peers where we need it the most.
When she comes to us with completed work or a courtesy inspection, we know for a fact that she has not cut corners. She will stick to her convictions and work to convince you if she thinks that something should not be left unattended. When we need technicians, she is the first one to offer to work overtime to help. Most of her work is related to troubleshooting. She gets the diagnostic and the repair done pretty close to estimated times, and she has that sense of separating systems to know which part is affecting another.
We are lucky to have Camille in our dealership!
Apprentice Technician
Andre is a dedicated high school student who joined Lakeside International Trucks in 2022 and has been working tirelessly this summer. With his anticipated graduation in June 2024, Andre has demonstrated exceptional growth and commitment to his role as a rookie technician. Andre began his journey by familiarizing himself with the shop environment during the second shift while diligently attending high school during the day. As he developed his skills, he assisted the service department by maintaining a clean and organized shop and observing senior technicians as they carried out various tasks.
Among the array of responsibilities, Andre discovered his passion for DPF cleaning, which quickly became his favorite job. He thrives on getting his hands dirty and embraces every opportunity to expand his knowledge. Each day, Andre's learning curve steepens, and he continually seeks to enhance his abilities in the shop. The shop atmosphere and the experienced technicians with whom Andre collaborates have played pivotal roles in his growth. What sets Andre apart is his admiration for the way the technicians guide him in the right direction without explicitly instructing him. This independent learning approach fuels his progress and helps him reach his full potential. Andre's dedication is unwavering, as he consistently steps up to any task the shop requires, earning the respect of numerous senior technicians. Beyond his assigned duties, he frequently goes above and beyond to support his fellow technicians by assisting with clean-up tasks or promptly providing them with specific tools. As a result, the senior technicians have embraced their role as mentors, readily offering guidance and assistance to Andre on the jobs he tackles. At a young age, Andre has emerged as a natural leader in the shop, demonstrating an exceptional level of maturity and an exemplary attitude.
In recognition of Andre's outstanding work ethic, his commitment to continuous learning, and his remarkable ability to contribute effectively to the shop, we wholeheartedly endorse him for the Rookie Technician Recognition. Andre's drive, determination, and exemplary conduct make him a true asset to Lakeside International Trucks, and we do not doubt that he will continue to excel in his career as a technician.
VETERANS
These tech professionals have two or more years of experience at the dealership, have shown commitment to Uptime by being top producers, have gone the extra mile, and have proven they are responsible and trustworthy.
Lead Service Technician
Thomas is a senior-level technician who has worked for Rush Truck Centers since February of 1988. Thomas does a great job of adapting to change and progressing with technology. His greatest strength has been developing entry-level technicians.
Thomas leads a team of 8 technicians, with half of them being fairly new to our industry. We can always rely on Thomas to provide top-notch leadership. We recently had a customer drop off a truck on Friday afternoon and needed to pick it up on Saturday. We had a limited second shift and assigned it to the next available tech. The technician was struggling a little bit but made a call to Thomas, and Thomas was able to walk him through the repair. The truck was completed and picked up on time. For us, it's a win-win every time — happy customers and the development of a young technician. It's truly what our industry is all about. We couldn't do it without him.
Thomas is Master and Diamond Certified in Truck and Bus and holds all of his ASEs. Thomas also has a CDL. Thomas has won several tech rodeos and placed in International's rodeo. He is a team lead and currently has four entry-level techs who work under his leadership. He spends each day developing our industry's future techs. He is a great mentor, leader, and well-respected person in our dealer.
Lead Service Technician
Jamie is one of the most dedicated technicians at Altruck International. He is always willing to go above and beyond. He has completed all of his required training online and in class. He is a leader and is willing to share his knowledge and skills with the apprentices who work here to shape them into quality people and technicians.
Jamie tries 100% of the time to ensure that the customer has their vehicle back by the scheduled time even if it means staying until the early hours of the morning so that the customer can have their truck for work the following morning. Once, a customer needed their truck for 7:00 a.m. to perform their job. Not only did Jamie stay until 4:30 a.m. to finish up a complete injector swap and top set on an engine, but the parts didn't get to our facility until 9:30 p.m. Because he is qualified to drive trucks, he delivered the truck to the customer in their yard at 6:00 a.m. and the customer didn't miss their day of work.
Jamie is a Diamond certified technician and is the leader in the shop. He spends a lot of time helping every department solve issues, from mechanical problems to just a different set of eyes on a task to help solve issues. Jamie is the first person the technicians go to for help in the shop and is always willing to lend a hand or even his tools to ensure the job gets done for the customer.
Jamie is a shop foreman, and during his day he is always pulled in multiple directions and still is our top producer for the year and has no comebacks. He cares about being fair to the customer and the company and is very dedicated. Jamie is always willing to help anyone with a problem or just with life. He spends his own time making sure the other techs here can always call him to ensure the job is getting done right. He even takes on the after-hour service calls and the 3:00 a.m. phone calls in snowstorms to get customers up and running and helps his friends with any personal projects. Altruck International in Goderich is a better place with him here, helping any way he can.
