Isuzu New Zealand has won the World Isuzu technicians competition (known as I1-GP) in Japan beating the best Isuzu technicians from around the world.
New Zealand champions Mark Broadbent and Ashley Bennellick, coached by Isuzu’s aftersales manager, Trevor Moreland, narrowly missed out on a podium finish last year but secured the top spot for 2012, by a narrow margin over hosts Japan.
“Ashley and Mark worked incredibly hard to secure another national title, and combined with last year’s international experience at the world event, I was confident they would do even better” says Moreland.
Broadbent works for Auckland Truck Specialists while Bennellick is from TDM (Transport Diesel & Marine) also in Auckland.
25 international teams competed at the Isuzu training centre in Tokyo, in a timed written exam and two timed practical events, based on real-world service situations including fault finding (electrical and mechanical) and engine repair.
The 2012 world title is NZ Isuzu’s first I1-GP in the competition’s seven year history, after coming second in 2007.
With the two current Kiwi winners of I1-GP ineligible to compete at next year’s event, the search is on for two new technicians to defend the hard-fought for title next year in Japan.
Trevor Moreland tells DIESELtalk that, for Isuzu buyers, the award “recognises the high standard of training undertaken by Isuzu service technicians in New Zealand” underscoring “our motivation to invest in training to the betterment of Isuzu customers.”
Isuzu sales and marketing manager, Colin Muir says that in terms of aftersales service “this global recognition demonstrates the world class Isuzu technicians in our dealerships, making a great proposition for truck buyers.
“Customers can be confident that any issues a vehicle might develop will be fixed by our highly trained service technicians, throughout the dealer network.”
Speaking to DIESELtalk on the skills shortage around New Zealand of diesel technicians, Moreland says that “as a distributor we don’t directly employ technicians” but conceded that there appears to be a shortage of truck technicians, which could be attributed to the Australian mining boom as well as a lack of young technicians coming through the industry.
Either way says Moreland,“it’s something that needs to be addressed.”
