Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) is celebrating holding another successful National Technical Skills Competition (NTSC) at its training facility’s head office in Melbourne.
This year’s competition pitted some of the nation’s best Isuzu technicians against the clock and each other in a series of high-pressure diagnostic tests in both written and practical form.
Jonathan Elias of Black Truck & Ag in Toowoomba (QLD) was named the winner of the Technician Round, with Bendigo Isuzu’s (VIC) Louis Holt and Double R Isuzu’s (NSW) Brad Hickey rounding out the podium.
Webster Trucks’ (TAS) Hamish Yeomans won the Apprentice Round, with Double R Isuzu’s (NSW) Travis Chaffey and Road Runner Mechanical Services’ (WA) Josh Ahearn finishing second and third respectively.
2024 NTSC winner ‘Jono’ Elias was named champion despite it being his first trip to the Isuzu Truck headquarters.
“I have been with Black Truck & Ag in Toowoomba since I began as an apprentice straight out of high school in 2013,” Elias says. “But this is my first time visiting Melbourne and the Isuzu Trucks headquarters.
“Participating in competitions such as this is worth every bit of effort, even if you don’t pass the entry test you learn a lot and improve your skills.”
Elias and second-placed Louis Holt are now gearing up to compete alongside one another as part of the Australian team at the Isuzu World Technical Competition, also known as the I-G Grand Prix, or I-1 GP.
Holt is a seasoned I-1 GP competitor, and he says he’s targeting another top three finish at the upcoming competition.
“It was great to be back with everyone at this year’s NTSC,” he says. “Jono has done really well. It will be loads of fun working with him getting ready for Japan and the I-1 GP.
“I definitely want to see us have a podium finish next year – whether it’s first, second, or third, no matter where we finish it’s still a win.”
IAL Head of Aftersales Brett Stewart says competitions like this are crucial to providing further training and upskilling incentives for Australia’s undermanned fleet of service technicians and diesel mechanics.
“Our goal is to generate excitement around their critical role within Australia’s trucking sector and encourage new talent and apprentices,” Stewart says.
“It’s critical Isuzu does its bit to provide incentives for technicians to develop their skills and encourage them towards becoming our master technicians of the future.
“The National Technical Skills Competition is a key example of how Isuzu supports its talent, no matter where a service tech is in their career journey.
“Jono and Louis’ performance under pressure was phenomenal, so well done to them and to all who took on the challenge this year.”
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