FedEx Freight's Doug Nickles takes first place at TMC SuperTech competition for second year in a row

RALEIGH, North Carolina—For the second year in a row, FedEx Freight technician Doug Nickles has earned the title of TMCSuperTech Grand Champion. He beat out nearly 90 other competitors who participated in over 30 skills stations across two days.

TMCFutureTech, the student skills competition, had 21 competitors, with Maxwell Chatman of Ferris State University winning first place.

The national skills competition, which unlike past years had only a single professional track —versus separate tracks for heavy-duty, trailer, and light- and medium-duty—was held in conjunction with American Trucking Associations' Technology and Maintenance Council’s Fall Meeting at the Raleigh Convention Center. The three previous events took place in Cleveland, Ohio.

The new venue and track consolidation did not stop Nickles, who hails from East Moline, Illinois, from repeating.

“I had two great days of competition, so I felt good, but there's always that unknown," Nickles commented. "If I have one bad booth, that's it. So as soon as I got a couple underneath my belt, I was confident.”

The two-time Grand Champion asserted that the ASE written test was the hardest he’s had to take, and it was one of the stations he did not finish first in. Joseph Anderson of Anderson Trucking Logistics took that category. Nickles did take first in the wheel-end skills station, which in previous years he said his performance was "mediocre."

The other five stations Nickles finished first in were:

Coolants & DEF
Electronic Engine Diagnostics
Trailer Lighting
Fifth Wheel
Rollup Doors

Nickles credited his victory to his ability to take advantage of what he has in front of him.

“I know how to use my resources, whether that be books or the people I meet here,” he said. “I talk with them, I see different perspectives.”

Nickles will have to take a year off from the competition as per TMC guidelines, but he clarified that he’s not finished just yet. In discussing his professional goals for the future, he mentioned that he’d like to “teach people and get them on [the TMCSuperTech] stage.”

That's because the job takes a toll on any heavy-duty diesel technician, and probably a heavier one on the most capable, who often have a higher workload.

TMCSuperTech 2024 Skills Station Winners

TMCSuperTech 2024 Skills Station Winners (Professional Track)

ASE Written Test: Joseph Anderson - Anderson Trucking Logistics LLC
RP Manual: Erien White - Transervice, A NationaLease Member
Lubricants & Fuels: Kevin DaCosta - Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Coolants & DEF: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Electronic Engine Diagnostics: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Electrical Circuits: Carl Diehl - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
Fasteners: Jameson Haney - Cox Automotive
Service Information: Jonathan Cecil - Transwest Truck
Cybersecurity: Jeramiah Carter - Averitt Express, Inc.
Trailer Lighting: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Hydraulics: Kevin DaCosta - Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Trailer Alignment: Hayden Lidke - Red Classic Transportation Services LLC
Alternative Fuel System Essentials: Jeramiah Carter - Averitt Express, Inc.
Central Tire Inflation: Jordan Burris - Tyson Foods Inc.
Wheel End: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Fifth Wheel: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Brakes: Brendan Johnston - PepsiCo, Inc.
Trailer Electrical Corrosion: Christopher Cooper - TravelCenters of America
Liftgates: Carl Diehl - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
Automated Manual Transmissions: Jonathan Cecil - Transwest Truck
Tire & Wheel: Steven Layton - TravelCenters of America
Remote Diagnostics: Clyde Weathers - Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.
Starting & Charging: Brian Peters - Salem Nationalease
Steering & Suspension: Jonathan Cecil - Transwest Truck
Aftertreatment Mechanical: Aven Blozan - Iron Buffalo
Trailer Preventive Maintenance Inspection: Joseph Catlin - Thermo King Northeast
Rollup Doors: Doug Nickles - FedEx Freight
Wiring Diagrams: Erien White - Transervice, A NationaLease Member
Electric Vehicle Safety: Michael Wolffe - Fairfax County Dept. of Vehicle Svcs.
Light/Medium Vehicle Liftgates: Jonathan Cecil - Transwest Truck
Trailer Wheel End: Josh Keiser - Clarke Power Services, Inc.

Top 3 Heavy Duty Track Order of Finish

3rd: Carl Diehl, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.

2nd: Jonathan Cecil, Transwest Truck

Team Champion: Carl Diehl and Clyde Weathers, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc.

Grand Champion: Doug Nickles, FedEx Freight

TMCFutureTech 2024 Skills Station Winners (Student Track)

ASE Written Test: Maxwell Chatman - Ferris State University
RP Manual: Kyle Maxwell - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.
Lubricants & Fuels: Jack Lorenz - University of Northwestern Ohio
Coolants & DEF: Jack Lorenz - University of Northwestern Ohio
Electronic Engine Diagnostics: Allyson Zamayoa - Northwest Technical Institute
Electrical Circuits: John Connor - Des Moines Area Comm. College
Fasteners: Kyle Maxwell - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.
Service Information: Kyle Maxwell - Francis Tuttle Technology Ctr.
Cybersecurity: Jack Lorenz - University of Northwestern Ohio
Trailer Lighting: Robert Anderson - North American Trade Schools
Hydraulics: Maxwell Chatman - Ferris State University
Trailer Alignment: Joshua Laing - Forsyth Technical Community College
Alternative Fuel System Essentials: Riley Larr - University of Northwestern Ohio
Central Tire Inflation: Jack Lorenz - University of Northwestern Ohio
Wheel End: Tully McKinley - Forsyth Technical Community College
Fifth Wheel: Robert Anderson - North American Trade Schools