The best staff from the Hino Australia dealer network have competed against each other in the Hino National Skills Final.
Bevan Joseph from Sydney’s City Hino (Sales), Heath Bonney from Sydney’s Adtrans Hino (Parts) and John Dempsey from Mt Gambier’s Barry Maney Hino (Service) have taken out the coveted titles.
After a COVID-enforced hiatus for two years, the Hino National Skills Champions have been crowned from a shortlist of 18 staff from the Hino dealer network following a series of qualifying rounds.
Finalists in the Sales and Parts categories demonstrated their expertise through real-world roleplay scenarios and theory tests while the Service Technicians were tested on their diagnostic, analytical and technical skills in a series of hypothetical exercises.
Parts contestants were further tested on their interpretation skills of 300 Series Hybrid, 500 and 700 Series, and Genuine versus Non-Genuine parts.
For the first time, all contestants competed in a friendly Sale of the Century-type exhibition quiz with Hino Ambassador Neil Crompton acting as quiz master – after rapid-fire rounds with a series of questions from across all areas, Michael Xioa from CMI Hino Melbourne was crowned the overall quiz winner.
Held in Sydney on 17 November 2022, this was the eleventh incarnation of the Hino National Skills Contest, which is one of the longest-running and most comprehensive of its type in the truck industry.
“The Hino Australia’s National Skills Contest demonstrates our commitment to investing in and developing our staff, while ensuring they remain up-to-date with the latest technology – these were contributing factors to Hino Australia recently winning global Parts and Service Awards for the 14th and 11th consecutive years respectively,” said Sam Suda, President and CEO of Hino Australia.
“A skilled dealer network ensures we can continue to provide world-class service and knowledge to our customers – it is particularly important given the skills shortage that is being experienced across the trucking industry,” he said.
Each winner receives a cash reward and an ultimate VIP experience at the 2023 Repco Supercars Newcastle event.
The event was held at Hino Australia’s Sydney headquarters and attended by VIPs including Suda and Reiji Hara, Section Leader, Total Support Overseas Regional Management Department for Hino Motors.
Hino National Skills Contest Winners 2022:
Service
1st – John Dempsey – Barry Maney Hino
2nd – Peter May – FRM Hino
3rd – Thanh Nguyen – WA Hino
Parts
1st – Heath Bonney – Adtrans Hino
2nd – Codey Colley – Sci-Fleet Hino Brisbane
3rd – David Camilleri – CMI Hino Melbourne
Sales
1st – Bevan Joseph – City Hino
2nd – Shane Curtain – Sci Fleet Hino Eagle Farm
3rd – Jarrod White – CMI Hino Adelaide