The Tennessee Trucking Association recently hosted its annual Technician Skills Competition on April 9, 2026, at the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo Center. Diesel technicians from across Tennessee competed to showcase their skills in heavy-duty vehicle systems.
The competition included 10 stations, with 25 minutes per station and a five-minute transition between tasks. Each station was worth 100 points, and final rankings were based on total performance across the day. The format tested accuracy and technical knowledge across the kinds of problems technicians handle every day in the shop.
There was also a written test element provided by the Professional Technician Development Committee of the American Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC), which sets a recognized benchmark for technical knowledge and industry standards.
Winners Announced
After a long day of competition, the station winners are as follows:
- Recommended Practices – Brad Calfee, Walmart Transportation
- Remote Diagnostics – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
- Service Information – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
- Electrical – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
- Tire Monitoring Systems – Homer Knight, McKee Foods Transportation
- Engines – Ryan Makurat, Old Dominion Freight Lines
- Brakes – Matthew Booker, Dobbs Peterbilt
- Fasteners – Glenn Booth, Rush Truck Centers
- Wheel End – Brad Calfee, Walmart Transportation
- Written Test – Brad Calfee, Walmart Transportation
Recommended Practices, Wheel End and Written Test Station Winner (2nd overall) – Brad Calfee, Walmart
Tire Monitoring Systems Station Winner – Homer Knight, McKee Foods Transportation
Engines Station Winner – Ryan Makurat, Old Dominion Freight Lines
Brakes Station Winner – Matthew Booker, Dobbs Peterbilt
Fasteners Station Winner & 3rd Place Overall – Glenn Booth, Rush Truck Centers
Remote Diagnostics, Service Information & Electrical Stations Winner (1st Place Overall) – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
2026 Technician Skills Competition Champions
Of the winners, those with the top score for this years competiton are as follows:
1st Place (Grand Champion) – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
2nd Place – Brad Calfee, Walmart Transportation
3rd Place – Glenn Booth, Rush Truck Centers
1st Place (Grand Champion) – Kyle Kiser, McKee Foods Transportation
2nd Place – Brad Calfee, Walmart Transportation
3rd Place – Glenn Booth, Rush Truck Centers
Thank you to our Industry Partners
Thanks to the companies that helped make the event happen. Every year, we're able to host these events because of the generosity of our incredible sponsors. Thank you again for supporting this event and our technicians across Tennessee.
- TAG Truck Center – EXPO Center Sponsor
- Alliance Interstate Risk – Elite TSC Sponsor
- Vertical Alliance Group – Elite TSC Sponsor
- Noregon Systems – Lunch Sponsor
- Rush Truck Center - Nashville – Station Sponsor
- McKee Foods Transportation – Lunch Sponsor
- Assurant – Trophy Sponsor
- Parman Energy Group – Trophy Sponsor
- Penske Truck Leasing – Trophy Sponsor
- JOST International – Written Test Sponsor
- Clarke Power Services, Inc. – Award Support
- Cummins, Inc. – Award Support
Looking Ahead to Next Year
The Technician Skills Competition remains an important part of TTA’s work to support highway safety and professional excellence. Member companies should start identifying their top technicians now and get them ready for next year’s event.
Want to compete? Watch the TTA Events Calendar for registration deadlines. View all photos from this year's competition here.
