Over 300 NationaLease North American full-service truck leasing company technicians participated in Challenge
Schaumburg, IL – May 22, 2023 – NationaLease, a prominent provider of full-service leasing solutions, is thrilled to announce Nathan Olson from GATR NationaLease as the winner of the highly anticipated 13th Annual NationaLease Tech Challenge. The coveted award was presented to Olson at the May 2023 NationaLease Maintenance Managers Meeting in Schaumburg, IL.
With an unprecedented record number of over 300 Tech Challenge participants hailing from NationaLease’s full-service truck leasing companies across the United States and Canada, the competition was fierce.
After an earlier written knowledge exam, 10 exceptional technicians secured their spots in the final competition by achieving the highest scores in their respective regions.
The subsequent hands-on segment took place at the Universal Technical Institute in Lisle, IL, where the Top 10 regional winners showcased their expertise across various stations, including Air System & ABS, Lubricants & Filters, Fasteners & Wire, Fan Hub, Start & Charge, Tires / Radial Run Out / Wheel Mount, Engine Electronics & Mechanical, Wheel End & Foundation Brakes, Detroit Aftertreatment, Liftgates, and Fifth Wheel.
Nathan Olson became the first-ever 10th finalist in the Top Tech Challenge, securing the second highest score in region 7. Olson’s extraordinary talent had been recognized previously as he attained the title of NationaLease Tech Challenge Regional Winner in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, consistently ranking among the top three contenders and ultimately becoming the top tech in 2021.
Olson’s passion for the field was kindled at a young age when his father introduced him to the intricate process of dismantling an engine on an Old Briggs & Stratton powered push motor. His hard work and dedication led him to become a certified Volvo Diesel maintenance technician at GATR NationaLease for over eight years, taking only a five-month hiatus for an interim instructor role at a local technical college’s medium/heavy duty truck program.
Joining Nathan Olson are First Runner-up Jason Newman from Salem NationaLease and Second Runner-up Mark Duselis from Aim NationaLease. These highly skilled individuals will represent the NationaLease organization at the upcoming TMC Annual SuperTech Competition scheduled later this year. The winners were honored and presented with their well-deserved accolades at the NationaLease Awards Dinner held on May 18th.
The remaining seven of the ten Tech Challenge finalists included:
- Region 1: Matthew Kenney, VEL NationaLease
- Region 2: Stewart Kitchin, Ballard Truck Leasing, a NationaLease Member
- Region 3: Eric Maynard, Aim NationaLease
- Region 5: Zach Saum, Aim NationaLease
- Region 7: Wade Murphy-Price, Airoldi Brothers NationaLease
- Region 9: John Norwood, Aim NationaLease
- Region 8: Clyde Weathers, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc., a NationaLease member
“We are very proud of Nathan for his outstanding performance in the NationaLease Tech Challenge and congratulate all the Top Techs that participated this year. None of us would be here without all your hard work and dedication to making sure our trucks operate smoothly every day.” said Jane Clark, Vice President of NationaLease Member Services.
About NationaLease
Founded in 1944, NationaLease is one of the largest full service truck leasing organizations in North America, with over 900 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada and a combined customer fleet of over 165,000 tractors, trucks, and trailers. The company provides comprehensive fleet management services for private fleets and transportation service providers. More information can be found at nationalease.com.
