As it has every year, the competition began with a written exam in early June with more than 1000 test taken by technicians from Freightliner and Western Star dealerships and Detroit distributors in the U.S. and Canada. The 28 top-scoring vehicle and engine technicians will then compete in a “virtual” hands-on competition August 11-12. Unlike in previous years, when technicians traveled to DTNA headquarters in Portland to compete, the finalists this year will be tested at their dealership. Using computers and video, the judges will walk the technicians through different stations where they’ll be evaluated on how quickly they can troubleshoot problems. The best vehicle and engine technicians will be awarded on August 13 in a virtual ceremony.

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made us more aware than ever of the importance and indispensability of our technicians and service network. As our vehicles become increasingly complex, it is critical that we support the development and innovation of our technicians so that they can be on the cutting edge. Technicians truly drive the Uptime Revolution for our customers, and they are a big part of why DTNA leads the industry.”

said Admir Kreso, general manager for Dealer Service with DTNA.

With a service network spanning the U.S. and Canada, DTNA and its affiliated service locations invest more than $20 million in technician training and development annually. Some programs and initiatives include:

• Get Ahead Program is a partnership between DTNA, technical schools, and DTNA service network locations that provides students free access to web-based training materials, service literature, and diagnostic link licenses.
• Finish First is a 12-week, hands-on training program offered at select Universal Technical Institute campuses. Students earn certifications for Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Detroit engines. Students can also apply for scholarships to the Finish First program through DTNA’s TechForce Foundation. More than 1,300 students have graduated from the program since it was founded in 2008.
• MasterTech Recognition Program recognizes and rewards technicians who go above and beyond in the pursuit of providing an unsurpassed customer experience.
• Be Pro Be Proud is a Freightliner-sponsored initiative in Arkansas which interests students, parents and educators in technical professionals in the manufacturing, trucking and construction industries.

Source: Daimler

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“To help our customers ensure they are using their Brokk machines in the safest, most efficient way possible, our technicians provide in-depth, hands-on training with on all new and used machine purchases as well as rental machine startups,”

said Lars Lindgren, President of Brokk Inc.

“And as we expand our presence in North America, we’ve been able to go a step further and offer continued training options. Maybe that means coming to the jobsite for an operational refresher course with new hires or a one-on-one mechanical course at our St. Joseph facility. The enhanced training options allow contractors to design a curriculum that maximizes their Brokk experience.”

Customers can tailor training to focus on either machine operation or mechanics, depending on their needs and applications. All curriculum includes a combination of hands-on and classroom training by one of six specialized Brokk technicians. These team members are highly skilled with years of experience using Brokk machines in a variety of applications and will be assigned based on their specialties, including concrete cutting, process, and foundry, demolition, or service and repair. In addition to on-site training, the enhanced options can be designed to take advantage of the inventory and service facilities at Brokk’s Demonstration and Service Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. Special arrangements also can be made through the Stanhope, New Jersey, distribution center, and company headquarters in Monroe, Washington.

The Training curriculum will vary based on customer applications and crew requirements. A refresher course that covers key systems and components and touches on general job sites procedures — such as daily inspections and control box protocols to maximize machine control and operator comfort — will be included in most customized courses. Additional training in areas such as key troubleshooting and error code analysis, as well as operation tips to increase productivity and reduce stress on the machine, are also incorporated to help operators seamlessly integrate Brokk equipment into their applications and revolutionize productivity.

“Whether a contractor is new to Brokk or has been using a remote-controlled demolition machine for years, training is a continuous process,”

Lindgren said.

“Our machines have gone through numerous evolutions in more than 40 years. Training helps Brokk operators best use these cutting-edge innovations to improve their productivity and safety. Customers work one-on-one with our best technicians — some of them with more than 30 years of industry experience. For management, it provides an opportunity to better understand the equipment and recognize operator potential to maximize efficiency.”

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