Toyota Names Top Dealer Award Winners

Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. Inc. (TMHU), Irvine, Calif. has announced its top Toyota Dealer Technicians and Toyota Dealer Technical Trainers, with the Platinum Level, Master Technician Award.

Each year, TMHU provides a knowledge test available only to Toyota Gold Level Technicians. This year, nine Toyota Technicians and three Toyota Certified Trainers (TCTs) were awarded Platinum Level. This year was the first year the test was provided to Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers’ TCTs.

The tests consist of 100 questions related to the service and maintenance of Toyota lift trucks. Toyota presents the Platinum Level Master Technician Award and Platinum Level Toyota Certified Trainer Award to the top 10 percent of those who participated from each group.

TMHU dealers employ more than 2,100 Toyota forklift technicians. More than 70 percent of these technicians have reached Master Technician status of Bronze, Silver or Gold level, through Toyota’s Master Technician Technical Training Program. In 2007, 45 percent of service technicians at Toyota Industrial Equipment dealerships were Toyota Master Technicians.

The Platinum Level Technicians winners are: Paul Tassoul, Conger Toyotalift, Neenah, Wis.; Steve Forgette, Conger Toyotalift, Green Bay, Wis.; Andy Hensley, Vesco Toyotalift, Hickory, NC; Perry Joseph, Kenco Toyota-Lift, Cinnaminson, NJ; Bob Betton, Kenco Toyota-Lift, King of Prussia, Pa.; Eric Howland, First Access Material Handling, Batavia, Ill.; Michael Stephens, Williams Toyota Lift, Inc, East Sparta, Ohio; Anthony Gonzalez, Toyota Material Handling Northern California, Hayward, Calif.; Daniel Hunt, Toyota Material Handling Northern California, W. Sacramento, Calif.

2011 Platinum Level Trainers: Eric Nelson, Toyota Lift of Minnesota, Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Keith Blodgett, Toyota Material Handling Northern California, Hayward, Calif.; Jerry Gorham, Toyota Material Handling Northern California, Hayward, Calif.

Each Platinum Level honoree received a certificate and a monetary award card. In addition, a plaque bearing their name, dealership and years of service will be displayed in the Platinum Level display case located at the TMHU National Training and Customer Center in Columbus, Ind.