Heidi Inkster has claimed the top prize in the Hino Skills Competition national final for diesel technicians.
The competition, jointly run by Hino Distributors and its after sales support partner Truckstops, saw 28 technicians across New Zealand test their knowledge of the Hino product.
Inkster from Truckstops Wellington stole the show with a very consistent effort throughout the competition.
The August 1 final saw Inkster and second-placed Chito Dimaculangan from Truckstops Mt Wellington competing against the clock, taking turns to complete three practical exercises each.
In between the practical tests there were also theory tests to complete.
Hino NZ technical support manager Simon Wilson says he is “thrilled” to see a top female technician supporting Hino in the Truckstops network.
“We hope Heidi’s success will encourage other females to consider the heavy transport industry as a viable career option.
“We wanted to test the competitors’ skills and knowledge as well as their ability to work under pressure to a set timeframe much like the challenges our technicians face in our workshops on a daily basis,” Wilson says.
Hino general manager Darren Salt says “a little healthy competition” helps keep its workers at the top of their game.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve the support we provide our Hino customers and felt an initiative of this nature was a great way to improve our technicians’ knowledge base,” he says.
Truckstops Wellington branch manager Chris Groves says he is “very proud” to have Inkster represent the busy branch and says her win was “fantastic”.
The competition was held at the National Development Centre in Auckland which runs the Truckstops apprenticeship programme and supports both Hino & Truckstops with targeted, product-specific training programmes. It takes around 14 new apprentices every year.
Truckstops general manager Kevin Smith says the apprenticeship programme “enables Truckstops to nurture talented people by providing a clear and rewarding career path across the Truckstops nationwide network”.
Inkster joined Truckstops as a diesel technician apprentice in May 2013. After completing her apprenticeship in March 2016 she has gone from strength to strength.
She will head to Australia on August 21 to compete in a trans-Tasman clash against the top Hino Australia technician as well as heading to Hino Japan to observe the global final later this year.
Hino NZ is hoping local winners will soon be eligible to compete against the best in the world at this event.
