SAN ANTONIO. Rush Truck Centers (RTC) announced the winners of its 2011 Technician Skills Rodeo held here at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Mark Jones from RTC’s Denver, CO, facility took the winner’s circle in the refuse division, winning $5,000 in cash.
Randy Hughes from RTC’s Texarkana location won the Caterpillar engine division, taking home $6,000 in cash and a $1 per hour raise.
Sherman Black from RTC’s Austin, TX, store won the Cummins engine division, earning $6,000 cash and a $1 per hour raise as well.
Glenn Booth, working out of RTC’s Nashville, TN, dealership won the Eaton division, garnering $6,000 in cash and a $1 per hour raise.
There were “grand champions” for RTC’s annual skills rodeo – now in its sixth year – one for medium-duty trucks and another for heavy-duty.
Michael Willoughby, based out of RTC’s Oklahoma City store, snagged the “grand champion” cup for the medium-duty category – winning $7,500 in cash, $4,000 in assorted prizes, and a $1 per hour raise.
Erick Lincoln, based out of RTC’s Albuquerque, NM, dealership, won the heavy-duty cup, taking home a $1 per hour raise, $4,500 in prizes, and $10,000 in cash.
W. M. “Rusty” Rush, president & CEO of RTC’s parent company Rush Enterprises, noted in a roundtable interview with reporters that this annual contest is one of major internal efforts that helped the company reduce technician turnover from 70% in 2005 to down near 20% this year.
“It shows the impact this program is having with our technicians,” he explained. “These guys are really important to our success; they are the heartbeat of our dealerships.”
