Toyota hosts inaugural Top Tech Challenge

Toyota Material Handling U.S.A. (TMHU) recently hosted the company’s inaugural Platinum Skills Challenge.

Ten Toyota Platinum Technicians representing dealerships throughout the United States participated in the hands-on skills competition at the company’s headquarters in Columbus, Ind. The one-day Platinum Skills challenge tested technicians’ knowledge and skills in a variety of forklift trouble shooting and diagnosis scenarios, simulating real on-the-job conditions.

Andy Hensley from Vesco Toyotalift was the winner of the Platinum Skills Challenge, earning the title of Toyota Top Tech 2015.

1st place: Andy Hensley, Vesco ToyotaLift of Hickory, N.C.

2nd place: David Weierke, Toyota Lift of Minnesota of Brooklyn Park, Minn.

3rd place: Eric Howland, First Access Material Handling of Batavia, Ill.

“Toyota Platinum Technicians represent the highest level of skill and proficiency in their field,” said Rick Kidder, technical training manager of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. “Our first Platinum Skills Challenge brought together a great pool of talented professionals. We congratulate Andy, for earning the title of Toyota Top Tech 2015 and the other participants for their achievements and look forward to another great event in 2016.”

Toyota Top Technicians
Toyota Industrial Equipment (TIE) dealers employ more than 3,000 Toyota forklift technicians. To achieve the Platinum level, Gold level technicians must have the highest score in their territory or be one of the three highest scores across the country in an on-line Platinum test. The test has 100 questions which are pulled at random from a pool of more than 400 questions related to the service and maintenance of Toyota forklifts. The Technician training provided by TMHU requires dealer technicians to complete both the Toyota forklift-specific training as well as an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

To achieve Bronze Level, it requires a minimum of two years working at a Toyota Industrial Equipment dealership along with the successful completion of six classroom courses, many on-line training modules, and tests. Silver and Gold levels require three to five years of working experience at a Toyota Industrial Equipment dealership, additional classroom courses, and tests.

Front row left to right: Bob Smith, Rich Nagelin, Jesus Davila, Roy Adams, Andy Hensley, Eric Howland. Back row left to right: Daniel Hunt, Jeff Hartle, David Weierke, Michael Scheg.

Toyota Platinum Technicians
Eric Howland – First Access Material Handling – Batavia, IL
David Weierke – Toyotalift of Minnesota – Brooklyn Park, MN
Rich Nagelin – Prolift Industrial Equipment - Indianapolis, IN
Bob Smith– Forklifts of St. Louis -  St. Louis, MO
Andy Hensley – Vesco Toyotalift – Hickory, NC    
Roy Adams – Toyota Material Handling Northern California – Salinas, CA
Michael Scheg - Toyota Material Handling Northeast, Hanover, MD
Jesus Davila – Toyotalift of Houston – Houston, TX
Jeff Hartle – Toyota Forklifts of Augusta – Augusta, GA
Daniel Hunt – Toyota Material Handling Northern California – Fresno, CA