While farmers keep the world fed and truck drivers deliver that food, it’s the diesel technicians that keep the trucks running.
Southeast Community College in Milford was the site of a July 14 search for the best diesel tech in Nebraska.
The college hosted the annual SuperTech competition, held by the Nebraska Trucking Association, in its Crete Carrier Diesel Technology and Welding Center.
The winner earned an all-expense paid trip to the national SuperTech competition in Cleveland, Ohio, in September, where he will compete for $40,000 in prizes.
The national contest is hosted by the Technology and Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Association.
Jeff Hoefer, a member of the committee that hosts the event, said professional technicians must first qualify for the state contest by taking an online test.
About 80 techs took the test this year, and the top 16 were invited to advance to the hands-on SuperTech event in Milford.
One student from each of the Southeast, Central, Northeast and Metro community colleges also was invited to compete.
Technicians rotate through 10 different skill stations, ranging from shop skills and electrical diagnosis to air brakes and precision measurement.
Each station tests their abilities to complete a specific task in under 25 minutes while a judge oversees their work.
The judges are professionals from the diesel technology industry. This year, Nebraska State Patrol troopers also helped judge the vehicle inspection station.
Jerry Wessel, who started the Nebraska contest with Hoefer 14 years ago, said the skill stations are kept secret until the day of the event.
“We try and pick things that are current things that are seen in the industry,” Wessel said. “The task we expect them to complete will change every year. Even the committee doesn’t know what they are.”
The tech with the highest score in each of the skill stations wins $100 cash, as does the top rookie. Students earn money they can use toward tools.
Karl Eickhoff, director and instructor in SCC’s Diesel Technology program, said this is the first year Milford was able to host the contest, having just opened the Diesel Technology facility in 2020.
“They’ve been holding it at Central (Community College) in Hastings, but we talked about moving it around,” Eickhoff said. “Then, we built this, and we’re more centrally located.”
Contestants came from across the state, including some who work in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Grand Island and Weeping Water.
