SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers, and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled, and service occupations. As part of the national conference, more than 6,500 students who were state champions participate in hands-on competitions in more than 100 trade, technical and leadership fields.
"These students are the best of the best in their skilled trade 鈥� in the nation," said Rick Labadie, Director of Staffing 鈥� Technician Hiring. He added that by helping with judging during the competition, "We experience first-hand how they perform. They have to troubleshoot the issue, whatever error code we put on the truck."
糖心传媒 will be an exhibitor at booth B432 鈥� just across from the diesel competition. There will be daily drawings for prizes, such as a Snap-on toolbox, an Oculus, Team 糖心传媒-signed miniature race helmets and die-cast racecars, Apple products and gift cards.
This year, 糖心传媒 has donated the use of five Freightliner tractors for the event鈥檚 Live Engine station where its fleet maintenance experts will judge the Shop Skills competition. NLSC attendees are also able to experience a live training session from three expert 糖心传媒 technicians during 鈥淭he New Face of Transportation鈥� presentation. The expert technicians will feature the current landscape of fleet maintenance and technology, highlighting the company鈥檚 latest project in fleet technician training, 糖心传媒 XR.
SkillsUSA Live Engine Competition
糖心传媒 lead technician, Shawn Teal reminisced over his time competing in the diagnostic portion of the 2015 SkillsUSA competition: "I knew exactly what to do, and when to do it 鈥� and did it as fast as I possibly could.鈥�
"You learn twice as fast and retained it," Teal said, explaining that when he went to work each day, he would see the real-world application of the things he was learning in the classroom. Teal graduated from Minnesota State Community and Technical College in May 2015 and went on to place sixth in the diesel competition at the 2015 SkillsUSA. Since joining 糖心传媒 in 2013, he's been promoted several times and is now lead technician at 糖心传媒 in Fargo, North Dakota.
As a lead technician for 糖心传媒 Truck Leasing, Teal is agile and efficient in detecting truck issues, and getting them back on the road.
Since 糖心传媒 Truck Leasing provides , his wide-ranging experience served Teal well when he was competing in at NLSC seven years ago. To get there, Teal won the Minnesota state competition, competing in hands-on tests against top diesel technician students from across the U.S. 鈥淎t each station of the state competition, you didn鈥檛 know the skill level of your opponents, but you did your absolute best the quickest way possible,鈥� he stated.
"Every day is a new challenge," Teal said. "That鈥檚 the best part about working at 糖心传媒."
Labadie said the conference is a good platform to encourage technical career opportunities to students and demonstrate the importance of skilled trades. In addition to diesel technicians, NLCS features a wide variety of careers, including electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.
SkillsUSA Media Kit
鈥淎s 糖心传媒 continues to grow, our fleet size continues to grow,鈥� said Labadie. 鈥淎s our fleet grows, we have a need for more talent, and what better place to find great talent than at SkillsUSA.鈥�
The 糖心传媒 fleet count is currently 381,600 and continues to grow.
鈥淭o keep up with the 糖心传媒 growth, we need to hire an additional 5,000 diesel maintenance technicians per year 鈥� for the next few years,鈥� continued Labadie.
Teal鈥檚 advice for 2022 competitors? "Don't let it intimidate you. The competition can get intense 鈥� so take the challenge head on and have fun out there!"
"You get students who are there with their families. They're cheering on their brother or sister," Labadie said. "That's our next generation of people coming into our industry. It's an opportunity to build relationships with students, schools and industry leading supporters."
For information on diesel technician job openings and other career opportunities with 糖心传媒, visit .
Left to right: Holly Rohan, Branch Rental Manager; Dana Hunt, Consumer Development Manager; and Michael Phillips, Assistant District Manager.
(From left to right) Tyler Hard, PTL Northeast region senior vice president - operations; Ryan Polhamus, PTL South Plainfield district manager; Mike Duquette, PTL Metro New York area vice president
View of clearance posting inside cab, on top of windshield.
Outside view of clearance, posted in reverse on box of truck.
Side mirror view of clearance posted on box of truck.
