Daimler Truck Australia Pacific has named its 2026 Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz Trucks Technicians of the Year, putting a spotlight on the technical capability required to keep increasingly complex heavy vehicles operating reliably.
The national finals were held at the Daimler Truck Training Academy in Mulgrave, Victoria, where leading technicians completed technical theory assessments, real-world diagnostic challenges and practical hands-on evaluations. Winners also earned an overseas trip to either the United States or Germany.
Josh Cook from Keith Andrews Hamilton was named the 2026 Freightliner Technician of the Year. Sam Jalalabadi from Daimler Trucks Laverton finished second, with Bradley Skein from Daimler Trucks Wagga taking third place.
For Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Brendan Haldane from Daimler Trucks Huntingwood took the top honour. Peter Briggs from Daimler Trucks Brisbane placed second and Archie Rousell, also from Daimler Trucks Brisbane, finished third.
For heavy vehicle fleets, technician capability is an important part of the support equation. Modern trucks increasingly combine sophisticated drivetrains, electronic systems and diagnostic technology, making the skills available within the dealer and service network important when fleets are considering vehicle uptime and whole-of-life support.
Daimler Truck Australia Pacific Vice President of Service, Product, VPC and Elite, Stephen Downes, said technicians played a critical role in supporting customers.
“Truck technicians are absolutely critical to success of our customers, so it is important that we identify and celebrate the best of the best,” Downes said.
He said the standard demonstrated during the finals reflected the commitment of the technicians who had reached the competition.
“The skills on display during the Technician of the Year finals was a testament to dedication and commitment of every single one of our finalists,” Downes said.
While technician competitions recognise individual achievement, they also highlight the broader investment manufacturers and dealer networks are making in technical training. For fleet operators, that capability can become increasingly important as vehicles become more technologically advanced and maintenance teams are required to diagnose faults quickly and return trucks to service.
