Chris Tate of Mohawk Trucks celebrates his second TMC SuperTech first place finish with fellow two-time grand champion Bryan Lewis at TMC 21 in Cleveland. Tate competed in 16 SuperTech competitions and plans to become a judge in the competition next year.

Longest running TMCSuperTech competitor wins top prize 2nd time before retiring

Sept. 16, 2021

Chris Tate of Mohawk Trucks, who competed in all 16 competitions, won first prize for the second time, in what was his last SuperTech.

John Hitch

CLEVELAND, Ohio—Tenacity paid off for Mohawk Trucks technician Christopher Tate, who earned the title of "Grand Champion" for the second time after winning first place at TMCSuperTech 2021. He competed in all 16 SuperTechs since 2005, and last won in 2009. This was his final competition, as next year he will help judge the event.

“This competition showcases the most skilled and knowledgeable truck technicians the industry has to offer, and this award is a testament to Chris’ professional talent and a distinguished milestone in his career as he wins his second Grand Championship title," remarked Robert Braswell, executive director of the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council .

A humbled and emotional Tate called the win “bittersweet” as he accepted the award, in large part due to last year’s death of Mohawk Trucks owner Mike Endres. The late Thermo King dealership owner helped get Tate involved in technical competitions.

“He taught me a whole lot of stuff,” Tate exclaimed during his speech. “This goes out to Mike.”

The SuperTech competition was held on Sept. 12 at the TMC Fall Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Cleveland. The awards ceremony took place on Sept. 15.

Thirty-four professional technicians took part in the one-track competition featuring 11 skills stations. Tate finished first in the “Fuel & Lubes” and “Suspension” stations.

Tate began his career at Mohawk, based in West Seneca, New York, in 1997. After competing in a state refrigeration technician competition, Tate told his boss he could do truck competitions with a little more training. Endres supported the move and sent Tate to a brake school.

Now the former apprentice is the national champion once again. The title includes not only bragging rights, but a treasure trove of technician tools and prizes valued at well over $20,000. Among the prizes were a:

$10,000 “dream shop” full of tools
$5,000 dream shop credit
Snap-On toolbox and one-year subscription to Nexiq eTechnician diagnostic software
Noregon JPRO Next Step Repair Diagnostic Toolbox with DLA 2.0 adapter, a one-year subscription to the JPRO Professional and NextStep diagnostics software
One-year subscription to Mitchell 1's TruckSeries repair information software
Panasonic ToughBook.

Tate also received an embroidered TMCSuperTech 2021 leather jacket, Apple Watch Series 6, and trip for two to the 2022 Daytona 500.

To the victor, Mohawk Trucks' Chris Tate, goes the spoils, including a dream shop full of tools and supplies valued at $10,000.

The trucking industry has changed in vast ways since Tate's last win in 2009, with the implementation of aftertreatment and highly advanced electrical and safety systems, to name a few. Tate said continuous education was the key to winning top honors 12 years apart.

“There's always studying and learning and reading—you have to stay on top of it,” he told Fleet Maintenance.

Participating in the competition itself, along with training fairs and sessions, had plenty of value for Tate, too, he said. “You're learning about the latest stuff as you're taking a test, and you're improving yourself for the rest of your career, too.”

"His consistent effort to be better, it just proves that those that don't quit, are rewarded," said George Arrants, former chair of TMCSuperTech, who currently serves as vice president for ASE Education Foundation.

Arrants noted how the once-small competition had grown during Tate's 16 years competing.

"TMCSuperTech has done a lot for our industry, people are now recognizing their technicians for the job they do," he said. "And companies are investing in their people in training and sending them to events like this. It really shows the quality of our industry and the support that we have for the people that maintain the vehicles that keep our country running."

It should be noted another competitor, José J. Feliciano of Dickinson Fleet Services, displayed plenty of grit and determination himself by competing in the skills stations with a broken hand. He placed first in the "Fasteners" and "Brakes" stations, and earned fifth place overall.

Station Winners

Written: Joseph C. Anderson Jr., TravelCenters of America
Wheel End: Michael Kerfoot, TravelCenters of America
Transmission: Lucas Coyle, TravelCenters of America
Engine & Aftertreatment: John Norwood, NationaLease
Lighting: Lucas Coyle, TravelCenters of America
Fuel & Lubes: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck Inc.
Coolant & DEF: Michael Kerfoot, TravelCenters of America
Fasteners: José J. Feliciano, Dickinson Fleet Services
Belts & Hoses: Michael Kerfoot, TravelCenters of America
Service Information: Michael Krause, Clarke Power Services Inc.
Brakes: José J. Feliciano, Dickinson Fleet Services
Suspension: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck Inc.

Top Five

Grand Champion: Christopher P. Tate, Mohawk Truck Inc
Second place: Joseph C. Anderson Jr., TravelCenters of America
Third place: Michael Kerfoot, TravelCenters of America
Fourth place: Michael Krause, Clarke Power Services, Inc.
Fifth place: José J. Feliciano, Dickinson Fleet Services

About the Author

John Hitch | Editor-in-chief, Fleet Maintenance

John Hitch is the award-winning editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, where his mission is to provide maintenance leaders and technicians with the the latest information on tools, strategies, and best practices to keep their fleets' commercial vehicles moving.

He is based out of Cleveland, Ohio, and has worked in the B2B journalism space for more than a decade. Hitch was previously senior editor for FleetOwner and before that was technology editor for IndustryWeek and and managing editor of New Equipment Digest.

Hitch graduated from Kent State University and was editor of the student magazine The Burr in 2009.

The former sonar technician served honorably aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), where he participated in counter-drug ops, an under-ice expedition, and other missions he's not allowed to talk about for several more decades.