Mack Customer Center Hosts Ryder Top Tech Competition

07-28-2015 
GREENSBORO, NC (July 28, 2015) – The top heavy-duty truck technicians from Ryder System, Inc. recently gathered at the Mack Customer Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania for the 2015 Ryder Top Technician (Top Tech) Recognition Program. The program, which is designed to identify, recognize and reward high-performing truck maintenance technicians, features the top eight performers from Ryder’s team of more than 5,000 U.S.- and Canadian-based technicians.

“We were honored to host the Ryder Top Tech Recognition Program at the Mack Customer Center,” said John Walsh, Mack Trucks vice president of marketing. “Like Mack, Ryder understands the value of investing in and recognizing their people, and the critical role their technicians play in their customers’ success.”

The Mack Customer Center offers a memorable experience for customers and fans of Mack Trucks. A product showroom and a performance test track for customers are located at the Center, as is the Mack Trucks Historical Museum, a separate, not-for-profit corporation that showcases 115-plus years of Mack history. The Center is also home to one of five U.S.-based Mack Trucks Academy locations, where Mack-trained instructors deliver custom-designed training for service technicians.

“Mack is a valued partner of the Ryder team,” said Melvin Kirk, Ryder senior vice president and chief information officer. “The Mack Customer Center showcases the company’s rich history of technical excellence – a great tie-in to our Top Technician Competition, which is focused on celebrating the best of the best technicians both at Ryder and within the industry.”

The Top Tech competition began with three rounds of increasingly challenging written and hands-on tests measuring technical training qualifications, outstanding customer service performance and quality workmanship. Eight finalists were then selected to travel to the Mack Customer Center for the final series of 10 rigorous hands-on skill tests, covering everything from vehicle electronics to preventive maintenance and air conditioning.

After tallying the results, Stephen Radford of Charlotte, North Carolina earned the title of “2015 Top Technician,” plus a cash prize and the keys to a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette. Darek Mowinski and Christopher Barnett were named the second and third place winners respectively, with each receiving a cash prize. The other finalists were:

  • David Berdovich of Harvey, Illinois
  • Kenneth Bilyea of London, Ontario, Canada
  • Trevor Cox of Bensenville, Illinois
  • Derick Hebert of London, Ontario, Canada
  • Francis Smerek of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Fresh off their success from Top Tech, all eight finalists will join 2014’s Top Tech winner Frederick (Rick) Morra to represent Team Ryder at the 2015 TMC SuperTech National Technician Skills Competition, beginning September 21 in Orlando, Florida.

Ryder Top Tech at Mack Customer Center
The Mack Customer Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania recently hosted the 2015 Ryder Top Technician (Top Tech) Recognition Program. Designed to identify, recognize and reward high-performing truck maintenance technicians, Top Tech features the top eight performers from Ryder’s team of more than 5,000 U.S.- and Canadian-based technicians. From left to right: Christopher Barnett, Francis Smerek, Derick Hebert, Stephen Radford, Darek Mowinski, Kenneth Bilyea, Trevor Cox and David Berdovich.



Dedicated to durability, reliability and meeting the needs of customers, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems and OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways.

Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, which is driving prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase customer uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 100,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2022, net sales amounted to about $47 billion. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com.