HINO Australia has named its top service, parts and sales employees at the 2015 National Skills Contest, which brought 22 finalists from the Toyota truck brand’ s national dealer network to the company’s head office at Caringbah in Sydney this month.

Staff from CMI Hino Adelaide were standout performers, with Asa Pearson taking out the National Service Award and David Cushion securing the National Sales Award after a showdown with colleague Andrew Harris.

The National Parts Award went to West Orange Motors’ Tom Stewart, with Ryan Macauley – another representative from CMI Hino Adelaide – in second and Mike Hardy (WA Hino) third.

Second and third placegetters respectively in the National Service Award were Brandon Healey (WA Hino) and Robert Barber (West Orange Motors), while Luke Bennett from FRM Hino placed third in the sales category behind Mr Cushion and Mr Harris.

The service and parts finalists were tested on their diagnostic and parts interpretation skills through a range of hypothetical exercises, and were also required to participate in a situational exercise “to display their prowess under pressure”.

Sales finalists, meanwhile, were assessed in group and individual knowledge tests – conducted in a ‘Sale of the Century’-style game-show quiz format – as well as a role-play exercise.

On hand at the national final were representatives from Hino Japan, including deputy general manager Hiroshige Fukuoka and manager Tsuyoshi Kawabata, along with Hino Australia chairman and CEO Steve Lotter and president and COO Shunichi (Sean) Takahashi.

Mr Lotter highlighted the importance of the skills contest in helping ensure dealership staff performed at the highest level.

“We want our team to be at the leading edge of sales and service, and world-class training and assessment is crucial to the growth of our business,” Mr Lotter said.

“We appreciate all our contestants who have worked so hard to earn a place in the finals, and we look forward to next year’s event.”

Hino has experienced strong sales growth this year of 15.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2014, with positive results across light (+17.5%), medium (+15.0%) and heavy duty segments (+6.7%).

It has sold 3342 vehicles overall (to the end of September), holding down a clear second position behind market leader Isuzu, which has racked up 5354 sales over the same period (+3.0%).

“The 2015 sales results represent a fantastic effort from all involved,” Mr Lotter said.

“It is a challenging climate for selling trucks, but I have no doubt that Hino Australia will work with the same vigour that earned us these great results for the remaining months of 2015.”

By Terry Martin