Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Top Technician (“Top Tech”) Skills Competition next month, honoring a quarter century of excellence, innovation, and professional achievement among the maintenance technicians who keep the company’s commercial fleets running safely and efficiently. Since 2002, Top Tech has grown to be one of Ryder’s most celebrated employee recognition programs.
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Ryder celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Top Technician Skills Competition in August. The milestone culminates in Nashville where the company’s top maintenance professionals will compete for the championship title and a $50,000 grand prize.
The milestone culminates on August 13 in Nashville, Tennessee, where 10 professional technicians will gather for the championship finals to compete for a chance to win the $50,000 grand prize and earn the title of Ryder’s 2026 Top Technician. In a day-long test of technical skill, speed, and precision, finalists will move through 10 timed competition stations, diagnosing and resolving real-world maintenance challenges on Ryder vehicles under the watchful eye of expert judges.
This year’s competitors represent some of the most skilled maintenance professionals across Ryder’s operations in the United States and Canada.
“Our ten finalists represent the very best of what our maintenance workforce stands for—technical mastery, problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to keeping our customers moving,” says Bryce Kinsley, vice president of maintenance operations at Ryder. “Twenty-five years in, Top Tech continues to set a higher standard for our profession, and this year’s class of finalists reflects the depth of talent, dedication, and pride that defines Ryder’s technicians every day.”
By the Numbers: 25 Years of Top Tech
Each year, technicians from Ryder’s roughly 5,000 U.S.- and Canada-based maintenance professionals advance through a multi-stage qualification process—beginning with written and hands-on assessments, followed by head-to-head regional competitions testing speed and diagnostic precision. The top two scorers from each region earn a coveted spot among the 10 finalists competing on the championship stage.
Over the past 25 years, Top Tech has grown into one of Ryder’s most visible and lasting employee recognition programs, shaped by milestones that reflect its growth and impact:
- 43,000+ technician entries across the competition’s history, with many competitors returning year after year
- 15 technicians have earned the title of Ryder Top Tech Champion, with several claiming the honor more than once
- 13 host cities across North America—Nashville, Detroit, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Louisville, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Dallas, Allentown, and Kansas City
- 44 OEMs and industry suppliers have supported the championship as sponsors since 2019, helping design competition stations that mirror real-world maintenance challenges
“What makes Top Tech unique is that it evolves with our industry,” says Rob Alley, senior director of maintenance training at Ryder. “The vehicles, tools, and technologies have transformed over the last 25 years, and thanks to close collaboration with our OEM partners, the competition has transformed with them. That commitment to continuous learning is what keeps Top Tech relevant—and what makes it so special.”
A Legacy Built on Technician Excellence
While Top Tech has grown in size and scope over 25 years, its purpose has remained consistent: recognizing the technicians whose expertise keeps Ryder’s fleet of approximately 240,000 commercial vehicles operating safely, reliably, and efficiently. For many participants, the impact extends far beyond the competition floor — shaping careers, elevating shops, and influencing the broader profession.
While Top Tech identifies Ryder’s annual champion, former participants say the experience often extends beyond the competition itself.
“Preparing for Top Tech continually challenged me to expand my technical knowledge and sharpen my diagnostic skills,” says Wade Robinson, field maintenance manager and 2021 Ryder Top Tech Champion from London, Ontario. “The experience and increased visibility across the organization helped prepare me for new career opportunities within Ryder.”
Kyle Walton, technician in charge and 2025 Ryder Top Tech Champion, says, “The competition also benefits technicians throughout the organization. The knowledge and experience I gained through Top Tech, including conversations with the other nine competitors, didn’t only stay with me. I brought those lessons back to my shop and shared them with other technicians. The true benefit of Top Tech is that the program can make all technicians better, even those who choose not to compete. A rising tide raises all boats.”
The event will be livestreamed with the 2026 Top Technician champion being crowned live.
Highlights from the week-long event will be shared on Ryder’s Facebook and LinkedIn channels.
Editor’s Note: To coordinate media interviews or learn more about attending in person, contact Jonathan Mayor at jonathan_c_mayor@ryder.com or 305-500-3161.
About Ryder System, Inc.
Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a nearly $13 billion leading provider of outsourced logistics and transportation services throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ryder offers supply chain, dedicated transportation, and fleet management solutions that integrate every step of the supply chain port-to-door, including cross-border logistics, fleet and transportation management, warehousing and distribution, and final delivery to customers’ doorsteps. Ryder’s broad portfolio of services encompasses managed transportation, freight brokerage, dedicated contract carriage with professional drivers, full-service fleet leasing and maintenance, commercial truck rental, automation and robotics, digital technologies, contract manufacturing and packaging, omnichannel retail fulfillment including e-commerce and last-mile delivery, and used vehicle sales. Serving more than 20 industries, Ryder manages approximately 240,000 commercial vehicles, operates nearly 800 maintenance locations, and runs approximately 320 warehouses totaling more than 100 million square feet. Ryder is consistently recognized for technology-driven innovation and industry-leading practices in safety, health, security, talent acquisition, and environmental management, and was most recently named to Fortune’s “America’s Most Innovative Companies” list. www.ryder.com
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements and information included in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration given to the many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including those risks set forth in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on our business. Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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