From left, Brodie Martin (Daimler Trucks Adelaide), Adrian Hays (Trucks and Trailers Auckland) and winner Cameron Nicol (also from Trucks and Trailers Auckland).

New Zealand‘s Cameron Nicol has been named the Freightliner Australia Pacific Technician of the Year.

The final stage of the competition was held recently at the newly established Daimler Truck and Bus Training Academy in Mulgrave, in Melbourne‘s east.

Nicol, who is from Trucks and Trailers in Auckland, edged out Brodie Martin, from Daimler Trucks Adelaide, and Adrian Hays (also from Trucks and Trailers) in the close-fought competition.

As a result, Nicol receives an all-expenses paid trip to North America, visiting Freightliner‘s Cleveland truck manufacturing plant, its test engineering centre in Portland Oregon, and the Detroit engine manufacturing plant. He will also attend the United States Grand Prix in Austin Texas.

Freightliner Australia Pacific director, Stephen Downes, says it is important to applaud the valued technicians who support the brand seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“Quality technicians are a crucial part of our commitment to our customers, so it is appropriate we celebrate the best of the best with awards like this,” he says.

“I want to congratulate Cameron, Adrian and Brodie for displaying such a high level of skill and commitment to Freightliner and its customers.”

The Daimler Truck and Bus Training Academy was established last year and is now a standalone unit, separate from the car and van training operations.

Freightliner expects interest in next year‘s competition to be even stronger. To be eligible for the competition, each technician must complete the Professional Level Status of the Freightliner Certified Training Program.