Sep 19, 2012 9:49 AM

The American Trucking Associations’ Technology &  Maintenance Council recognized Christopher Barnett of Hebron KY as the nation’s  top truck technician. He was named TMCSuperTech 2012 grand champion at the  council’s 2012 National Technician Skills Competition, held September 10-12 in  Pittsburgh PA.

  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 overall.

  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.

  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 KS, repeated his  second-place win from 2011 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 NY, 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 other top 10 finishers for TMCSuperTech 2012 are:

  •Michael John Vallery, Oak Harbor Freight Lines •Robert  Gonzalez, Ryder System •Eric M Vos, FedEx Freight •Michael Bogard, Ryder System  •Timothy Peters, Ryder System •Mark McLean Jr, FedEx Freight •Joseph P Calaway,  Walmart Transportation