BTS 23: Apprentices gear up for the National Apprentice Challenge

For teammates Luke Kneebone and Samuel Allan, competing in the 2021 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge was a daunting – but ultimately rewarding – experience.

Chosen from nominees from all around Australia to represent the Southern region (Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania), Luke and Samuel competed for the first two days of heats in front of audiences of more than 500 school students – and for the first time under the gaze and scrutiny of the public, in the arena that is Brisbane’s South Bank Piazza.

In the end, Luke, from Webster Trucks in Devonport, Tasmania, and Samuel, from Ballarat Isuzu, prevailed in the pressure-cooker final to take the title, snaring prizes including a set of tools and a hosted trip to the Supercars Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 – with the full corporate treatment, pit lane tours and a whole lot more.

More importantly, they say the Challenge helped them build both their technical skills as well as skills in team work, communication, time management, and working under pressure from having an audience watching their every move.

“It has broadened my view of the industry, being able to see different aspects of my field of work,” Luke said.

Samuel – who concedes the experience was initially “quite nerve-wracking” – added that the Challenge has improved his time management and vehicle fault diagnosis skills.

“At the start of each round we had five minutes to plan our approach to the seven faults, but during the Challenge there was no time to stand back and think about ways to diagnose them as we were under the pump for the entire 45 minutes,” he says.

“If we were struggling with a fault at times we just had to stop what we were doing and help each other out instead. I think this added to my team working skills as well.

“Competing in this Challenge has definitely had a positive impact on me. The skills I have gained from it I use every day while at work including working as a team and good communication to get things done on time. I think this is an important skill to have especially when taking on bigger roles such as managing/supervising a workshop.”

What’s more, Luke’s Service Manager, Craig Ferrall, who attended the show to cheer him on, says the win has been a confidence booster for the young apprentice – and his work colleagues.

Since joining Webster Trucks as a first-year apprentice, he says Luke has shown great promise and has always been willing to push himself to achieve the best for himself, the business and customers.

“Webster Trucks encourage all our apprentices to strive to be their best and someone like Luke becomes the real-life example that if you apply yourself, you can do it,” he said.

As the countdown begins to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, the 2021 victors are urging apprentices and their employers to get involved in the Challenge.

“I would highly recommend any apprentice with a passion for the industry to take part in the Challenge as it is a very rewarding experience,” Luke said.

In 2023 the Challenge will adopt an exciting new format aimed at positioning it as the peak national apprentice competition.

In a further boost to its prominence, the competition will now be held over the first two days of the show, when crowds are biggest, with heats staged on Thursday and Friday and, for the first time, the final taking place on Friday afternoon – again at the South Bank Piazza.

Participants will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show for the four days.

And in 2023 their skills will be tested on a Western Star truck, courtesy of sponsor Penske Australia.

The winning team will be the first to identify and repair all the faults, or the team that rectifies the most faults within the allowed timeframe.

For visitors to the show the competition is a dynamic spectacle, with commentary explaining the apprentices’ moves and strategy, as their approach unfolds. Things can get tense as the teams watch their available time evaporate.

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HVIA CEO Todd Hacking said the number of participants in the 2023 National Apprentice Challenge is testimony to the emerging talent coming into the heavy vehicle industry.

“The response has again been exceptional, with participants including second-, third- and fourth-year apprentices, Australia-wide,” he said.

“These young people are at the beginning of a journey that will open doors to hugely rewarding career paths with Australian and international companies involved in the manufacture, distribution and support of trucks, trailers and their components.”