We just posted a list of the top dealer Techs in the US. These are the winners of the Year 2000 Technician Recognition Program. These individuals have attained the status of Master Guild Technician, the highest level in MBUSA.
Check it out in MercedesShop's "What's New" section.

If you know any of these people, please thank them for a job well done. Congratulations from MercedesShop!

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Hi Bill,

Great idea, this way we can know for sure which shops have proven quality Tech's on board.

Only one problem, I did not see any listings for the NorthWest area (except for OR state), WA state for instance? Is the reason that there just are no hot-shots up here?

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Ross
96 C280

[This message has been edited by roas (edited 07-06-2000).]

We posted the entire list of winners in the US for year 2000.
It is quite possible that there were winners in the Northwest in prior years. We don't have any info on that.

Keep in mind that there are only 54 Tech's on this list. That is a VERY SMALL percentage of all the MB dealer techs in the US! The competition among MB Techs to reach Master Guild status is fierce. This is like "Top Gun" for naval aviators. Don't think for a minute that the dealerships and dealer Techs absent from this list are bad but, not everyone can be the best within MBUSA.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Bill:

If you have some time, could you give us the "Reader's Digest" version of what type of program these "aces" must endure?

Thanks!

Brian

Thanks to mbtek1 for explaining the TRP process to me:

The Technician Recognition Program (TRP) is in its 11th year.

There are 3 quizzes mailed to the Dealership during the year for each Technician. The quizzes are all different; no two Technicians get the same quiz. They are open book but are a little harder than it sounds, if you have ever used the factory technical information you will understand. The quizzes take you through the microfiche to WIS to wiring diagrams to the Diagnostic Manuals. It can take hours to find the answers to the questions. Then if the Technician has scored a 90% or better average on the three quizzes and has 28 or more training credits (CTC's) he will be eligible to take the Master Challenge Quiz.

The Master Challenge Quiz is a closed book quiz given on the same day throughout the nation at predetermined testing areas. As of 2000 the top 40 individual combined scores from the Master Challenge Quiz and the 3 quizzes at the dealership determine the Master Guild Technician. Tiebreaker is determined by CTC's. (All previous years it was the top 30 scores.)

For example you receive 4 training credits for attending a new product year class. Most Technicians attend school once a year so it can take some time to even have enough training credits to be eligible for the Master Challenge Quiz. There are other ways to accumulate more than 4 CTC's per year, an entry level Technician will go to school twice in one year. It could take about 4 years to accumulate the credits maybe a little less. Bottom line is you need to have some strong product technical knowledge to crack the top 40.

There are 4 levels of Technicians and the requirements to achieve the levels. Level 4 is Master Guild, Level 3 is Master Technician, Level 2 is Certified Technician and Level 1 is Technician.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC