DECEMBER 2024 TECHNICIAN OF INFLUENCE WINNERS
ROOKIES
Service Technician
Nathan has been with Ascendance Trucks Centers for a couple of years and has quickly become someone I can trust with any project or job assigned to him. He has grown his knowledge by asking questions and taking the time to learn when faced with challenges, which has made him an even better tech overall. Nathan is always willing to help with any project or task, from washing trucks to tackling difficult problems. He steps up without complaint or hesitation, demonstrating what it means to be a team player to all our technicians.
When working on difficult issues, Nathan takes the initiative to think critically about all possible problems or solutions before seeking assistance from me or other experienced techs. When he does ask for help, I know he has already troubleshot all possible issues. Additionally, when he works on projects independently, I trust that he completes the work with diligence and attention to detail. I never have to worry about double-checking his work before returning a truck to a customer. If Nathan says it's ready, I know he has taken the proper steps to ensure everything is in order. Nathan is always willing to come in early or stay late to get the job done, often without being asked or prompted by other techs or myself. He understands the importance of time management and keeping his work on track to meet deadlines efficiently, which ultimately keeps our customers happy and returning to our shop. His dedication contributes significantly to our workflow efficiency and bottom line.
Nathan has been an invaluable asset to our Allentown location of the Ascendance Trucks family. I am incredibly grateful for his time, dedication, grit, sense of humor, and overall positive attitude, which make him a joy to work with and a cherished member of our team.
Idealease Service Technician
I've trained and worked with many technicians over my 10 years in the field, and I have never met anyone more driven than Zachary Collins. At Cumberland International, he completes every job to the highest standard, consistently adhering to OEM specifications and utilizing service manuals and other resources. Zachary eagerly takes on tasks that others avoid, such as wheel seals. Within his first month, he completed more wheel seals than I have done in my entire career. His dedication is clear—demonstrating a strong commitment to productivity.
When the workload is heavy, Zachary doesn’t hesitate to volunteer to stay late or come in early. Despite starting in this field while still in school, he managed to work over 40 hours a week, often staying after hours to learn from me. In just his second week, I challenged him to take three ASE exams (T2, T8, and T4). Not only did he rise to the challenge, but he also passed all three on his first attempt—before even reaching his 90-day mark.
In October, I took a three-week vacation, and Zachary stepped in to fill my role. Upon my return, I received nothing but positive feedback from other departments. Zachary has routinely worked overtime, logging approximately 275 hours over 180 days, and has significantly increased overall productivity in the shop.
Zachary's initiative and drive are evident. Even the night shift in the parts department has taken notice of his efforts. Outside of work, he showcases his problem-solving skills by driving a Subaru SVX that he manual-swapped and rewired to address various issues. Zachary is a resourceful, hardworking individual, and we are fortunate to have him on our team!
VETERANS
Service Technician
Nolan comes in early every morning with a smile, ready to work at Hill International Trucks to a high standard. He is always willing to set his tools down and help his coworkers with any problems. Nolan consistently bridges the gap between customer and technician knowledge by helping everyone understand complex issues and making customers feel important.
Despite his young age, Nolan has completed all required training and beyond. He strives to improve daily, developing his technician and people skills. Courteous and respectful, Nolan goes out of his way to get the job done with integrity. He consistently holds over 100% monthly efficiency rating, even while helping others. Nolan never says no to helping his peers and spends time with younger techs and apprentices to help them grow. Nolan is my right-hand man and does everything asked of him at the highest level. He has great partner and customer relationship skills, takes pride in his work, and ensures others do their jobs correctly with the customer in mind.
Nolan has completed all International and Cummins training for all International products. He eagerly participates in any in-person training offered. When a customer comes in with a complex issue, Nolan rides with them to fully understand the problem. He once worked through his lunch to get a customer back on the road, consistently showing dedication without being asked.
In terms of responsibility and trust, I trust him to help train and guide other technicians. When I am absent, I rely on him to maintain our high standards and take care of every customer as family. Nolan has earned a bonus every month since working for Hill, always maintaining over 100% efficiency. He is nominated for the Tech of the Year Award for all nine Hill stores and has a strong chance of winning. Even during personal challenges, like the recent birth of his first child, Nolan has remained a high-performing technician.
Service Technician
Jag started with Glover International Trucks on September 26, 2019. He previously ran his own service truck business but wanted regular hours to spend more time with his family. Initially, I didn't have high hopes as he took a long time in orientation. However, on his first job, he completed it quickly and efficiently, following our procedures and protocols despite it being his first dealership job. Jag embraced Diamond Certification training and consistently sought challenging jobs to strengthen his skills. He quickly became Diamond Certified and has completed various in-person and online training courses, including A26, HVAC, S13, Allison, and Cummins platforms. He is currently enrolled in Endurant XD, DLB & Multiplexing, and X15 training.
Jag is a strong analytical thinker who assists with difficult diagnoses and brings solutions to his supervisor. He is trusted by managers and foremen and participates in round table discussions for challenging cases. Jag meets billable times, rarely has comebacks, and goes the extra mile to ensure customer uptime. He shares his knowledge with apprentices and other technicians, helping them learn our procedures and protocols.
Jag has gone above and beyond in training and is detail oriented. Here are a couple of examples of him going the extra mile:
- We had 17 full-maintenance lease snowplows rented to the City of Calgary. When our team lead went on short-term disability, Jag took charge of the project, gaining the trust of the techs and organizing the work efficiently despite his limited background in snowplows.
- A year ago, we had an LT (Cummins X15) with a recurring speedometer issue. Jag spent hours troubleshooting, even losing sleep over it. He discovered that incorrect ECM parameters set by another shop caused the problem. His dedication and analytical skills were crucial in resolving the issue.
Jag is eager to learn and understand the transportation industry. With technology advancing rapidly, it's easy to fall behind, but Jag's partnership helps us stay current and embrace new technologies. His collaboration with us and with his peers on the floor is immensely beneficial, as he shares the knowledge and skills he has gained. Our apprentices often say, "One day, I want to be on Jag's level," which reflects his character and dedication. Jag respects all his coworkers, and they, in turn, respect him. Jag's attitude, knowledge, and willingness to help make him a valuable team member.
