KISSIMMEE, Fla. (April 30, 2024) – To continue its commitment to recognizing technician excellence, Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) has awarded two dealer technicians at its Top Team competition during the company’s Service Solutions Expo in Kissimmee, Fla. Ten International Truck and IC Bus Master and Diamond Certified technicians from across North America competed over two days in a series of skills-based contests focused on diagnostics, repairs and maintenance.

Dan Myers of Roberts Truck Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, took home first place in the Bus Division, while Thomas Pianalto of Rush Truck Centers in Lowell, Arkansas, placed first in the Truck Division.

Myers is Diamond Certified technician with 28 years of experience. He knew at a young age that he wanted to turn his passion for working on vehicles into a profession.

“This is an awesome experience,” Myers said. “I like to do the competition just to keep myself up on all the current trends and see how I compare to other people. I am always trying to better myself and do the best job that I can. This is a good opportunity to showcase that and compare it with other people.”

Pianalto is a Master Certified technician, who was surrounded by technicians early on in his life, as he grew up helping his father and uncles at their body shop. He has 36 years of experience.

“When I finish a competition, I look back on what I did and feel like I could always improve,” Pianalto said. “I always learn from an event like this. For technicians, having the ability to come and do something like this means a lot. The key is to never stop learning.”

The Top Team competition, launched in 2023, gives service technicians the opportunity to display their skills, knowledge, and professionalism as they safely and efficiently diagnose and repaire different systems in mobile or stationary equipment.

“Our dealer network is working diligently to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and reduce overall repair complexities, and our technicians are a key part of these changes,” said Fabio Souza, executive vice president, Service Solutions. “Both Dan and Thomas have been key to their dealerships to achieve these goals and continue to drive the efficiency of their service teams forward.”

To learn more about Navistar's dealer network technicians and TECH EmPOWERment program, please visit www.internationaltrucks.com/support/tech-empowerment.