SHREWSBURY, Mass. — On May 11, Advantage Truck Group (ATG) hosted the 2026 SkillsUSA Massachusetts Diesel Equipment Technology Competition. This marks the sixth year ATG has hosted the event, which brings together the state’s top high school students to vie for a chance to represent Massachusetts at the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.
“ATG is proud to work with SkillsUSA Massachusetts to support students interested in a career as a diesel technician,” said Rob Lynds, ATG’s training director. Lynds was in charge of managing the state competition and designing the tasks at its workstations.
“The trucking industry faces an ongoing need for technicians, and events like this help address that need by exposing young people to career opportunities in the industry,” Lynds said.
During the competition, 11 students demonstrated their knowledge and expertise as they moved through various workstations that included tools, safety, precision measurement, vehicle components, engine diagnostics, electrical systems, brakes, air systems, interview skills and more.
Each contestant also received professional insight during a one-on-one conversation with last year’s gold medalist, Nolan Lukasik, who is now a diesel technician at ATG Westfield.
2026 Competition Winners
First Place/Gold Medalist: Jonathan Tremblay, a senior at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. Tremblay works at JT’s Diesel Performance through the school’s cooperative education program and will join their team as a full-time technician after graduation.
Second Place/Silver Medalist: John Harrigan, a junior at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. Harrigan works at ATG Raynham through the school’s cooperative education program and is employed there full-time during the summer.
Third Place/Bronze Medalist: Dylan Slotnick, a senior at Southeastern Regional Technical High School. Slotnick works on diesel engines at an automotive dealership as part of the school’s cooperative education program and intends to transition to a dealership specializing in heavy trucks after graduation.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
