IVECO has expanded its Master Technician Tournament to include New Zealand technicians for the first time, bringing more than 100 service specialists from across its Australasian dealer network into the 2026 competition. 

Introduced last year, the tournament is designed to test technicians across vehicle servicing, maintenance and fault diagnosis, while encouraging knowledge sharing and professional development throughout IVECO’s dealer network. 

2026 IVECO Master Technicians Tournament –  L to R: James Bambery, Matthew Radke and Jarrod Hodgetts

This year’s competition began with three rounds of online questionnaires before the field was whittled down to nine finalists – seven Australians and two New Zealanders – for a practical showdown at IVECO’s Customer Innovation Centre in Melbourne. The finalists were required to complete seven time-sensitive tasks using Daily, Eurocargo, and S-Way models, covering vehicle programming and CAN-Bus diagnostics using multi-meters, PicoScope equipment, and IVECO’s proprietary diagnostic tools. 

Contestants were also assessed through a remote-diagnosis role play using the manufacturer’s Remote Assistance Service. 

IVECO Master Technician Tournament – L to R: IVECO Head of Customer Services Barry Woods, Matthew Radke and IVECO Manager, customer and product support Jason Mobberley.

Judges considered not only the accuracy and speed of fault diagnosis and rectification, but also each technician’s methodology, discipline, and professionalism. Black Truck Sales Toowoomba workshop foreman Matthew Radke claimed top honours, ahead of Adtrans Truck Centre senior technician James Bambery and NZ Trucks Christchurch electrician Jarrod Hodgetts. 

The three placegetters received cash prizes and trophies at an official awards dinner. 

IVECO manager of customer and product support Jason Mobberley said the addition of New Zealand contestants had brought an international dimension to the event. 

IVECO Master Technician Tournament winner, Matthew Radke

“On behalf of IVECO, I congratulate our winner, Matthew, and place getters, and I thank all who participated in the 2026 event,” he said. “Response to this year’s expanded tournament was extremely positive and having New Zealand technicians join the competition certainly gave it an international flavour, while setting the scene for some friendly banter and new rivalries. 

“The tournament provided technicians with an opportunity to test their skills against their peers, which ultimately leads to greater knowledge sharing and professional development across our dealer network. 

“The learnings gained from the competition are then taken back to dealerships, benefiting IVECO customers throughout Australia and New Zealand.” 

Seven technicians from Australia and two from New Zealand in the final competition, from over 100 entrants.

Mr Mobberley said IVECO intends to further develop the tournament in 2027 and attract an even larger field of technicians.  “We look forward to further developing the IVECO Master Technician Tournament next year and encourage even more technicians to take part in the program,” he added. 

IVECO’s Australian commercial vehicle range spans the Daily light-commercial line-up, Eurocargo medium-duty range and ACCO and S-Way heavy trucks, as well as off-road products including the Daily 4×4, Eurocargo 4×4 and T-Way. 

The company is also currently trialling battery-electric eDaily models with Australian fleets.