FedEx Freight delivers a TMCSuperTech sweep, with Doug Nickles crowned as '23 Grand Champion

CLEVELAND—The winner's podium popped in purple all night at the 2023 TMCSuperTech awards dinner on Sept. 18, as FedEx Freight dominated the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council's National Technicians Skills Competition. Doug Nickles, a FedEx Freight technician from East Moline, Illinois, was named TMCSuperTech 2023 Grand Champion for the first time, with four other FedEx Freight techs also finishing in the Top 5 of the Heavy Duty track. Wesley Salley of Round Rock, Texas, placed second and Kelby Bentley, the 2019 Grand Champion, placed third.

FedEx Freight colleagues Cory Westfall and Phillip Barlow repeated as winners of the Trailer and Light and Medium Vehicles tracks, respectively. Cox Automotive's Michael Kerfoot Jr. finished right behind Westfall for the second straight year. Zachary Nikorak and Alan Snyder Cox Automotive were the runners-up in the LMV track.

TMCSuperTech was held in Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center Sept. 17-18, in conjunction with TMC's Fall Meeting.

The two-day competition pushed 93 professional techs to the limits testing their knowledge and hands-on skills in heavy-duty truck, light/medium vehicle, and trailer tracks. New skills stations also tested techs' ability to troubleshoot Cybersecurity, CNG, and Electric Vehicle issues.

Nickles and Bentley also won the team title at this year’s competition. Overall, Nickles, a graduate of Universal Technical Institute's diesel program, attributed his win to teamwork.

"My teammates—we push each other to work on our weaknesses," he said, adding that he relied on a great deal of studying to give him the upper hand in the competition.

For his efforts, Nickles won a cache of prizes, including a "dream shop" from Reliance Supply, which included, tools, fittings, connectors, and a $2,000 store credit.

“Winning TMCSuperTech is a tremendous achievement and clearly demonstrates Doug’s dedication to service and professionalism,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “As always, this competition brings out the best in our industry and Doug, and the rest of his FedEx Freight teammates rose to the occasion, providing real examples of the knowledge and skills needed to keep this industry moving. On behalf of ATA and TMC, I want to congratulate Doug, and thank all our competitors who make this such a special event.”

Twenty-five students’ skills were also put to the test to compete for the top spot of TMCFutureTech 2023. Timothy Rose, a student at Ferris State University, won the National Student Technician Skills Competition. He finished in second place last year. Fellow Ferris student Maxwell Chatman finishing second. Northwest Technical Institute’s Joshua Waldrep placed third.

Last year, FedEx's Freight's Bonnie Greenwood made female tech history by finishing second overall in the HD track, though she was unavailable to attend in 2023. There were fewer female techs overall this year. Only one female, April Hill from Travel Centers of America, competed in the professional competition, TMCFutureTech had two: Aysia Williams from Francis Tuttle Technology Center, and Jillian Proell from WyoTech. The student competition had only 17 challengers last year, but four were women. Experts estimate the U.S. repair sector is about 2% female.