Downers Grove, IL, March 24, 2026 – NationaLease is proud to announce the ten regional winners of the 16th Annual NationaLease Tech Challenge written exam. The exam was held on March 11, 2026, with more than 340 technicians participating across the U.S. and Canada. The top scoring tech in each of the nine regions, in addition to the next-highest scoring tech, will all advance to the next part of the NationaLease Tech Challenge: the Hands-On Competition.
This year, female technicians had their strongest showing in the history of this competition, highlighted by Cassady Breazzeal of Carco NationaLease, winner of Region 8, as the first woman to qualify for the Hands-On Competition.
All ten winners will travel to the 2026 NationaLease Maintenance Managers Meeting in Chicago, IL, and compete on May 12, 2026, for the title of Top Tech.
Congratulations to the winners:
- Region 1: Cole Readman, Warner Leasing Company Ltd., a NationaLease Member
- Region 2: Matt Dove, Aim NationaLease
- Region 3: Eric Maynard, Aim NationaLease
- Region 4: Brian Climes, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc., a NationaLease Member
- Region 5: Jeremy Clark, Truckway NationaLease
- Region 5: Carl Diehl, Hogan Truck Leasing, Inc., a NationaLease Member
- Region 6: Darren Sapp, Kirk NationaLease
- Region 7: Wade Murphy-Price, Airoldi Brothers NationaLease
- Region 8: Cassady Breazzeal, Carco NationaLease
- Region 9: John Norwood, Aim NationaLease
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s exam.
About NationaLease
Founded in 1944, NationaLease is one of the largest full-service truck leasing organizations in North America, with over 1,100 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, and a combined customer fleet over 180,000 tractors, trucks, and trailers. The company provides comprehensive fleet management services for private fleets and transportation service providers. More information can be found on nationalease.com.
