WINNIPEG, Man. – The top service and parts personnel from Volvo Trucks North America, Inc.’s dealer network gathered to choose the North American winners of the Volvo International Service Technical Association (VISTA) competition last month.

One Canadian team managed to edge its way into the final round. Members from the Volvo Manitoba Truck Centre in Winnipeg, Man. competed but were eventually ousted by the eventual winners from GATR of Sauk Rapids, Minn.

VISTA is a hands-on competition to select the top dealer service and parts personnel.

Volvo says the event is meant to be an entertaining, yet effective way to maintain a high level of technical skill and proficiency in the Volvo dealer network.

Hundreds of people compete in the six-month program, which requires a significant dedication of time and effort by the participants.

The VISTA competition is held every two years among three-person teams fielded by Volvo dealers, usually consisting of a mix of service and parts experts.

There are three rounds of competition involving online technical questions to produce five regional champions – including the team from Winnipeg – who then traveled to Volvo’s headquarters in Greensboro for the final round.

The final round also tested participants on their knowledge of service bulletins and ability to look up parts and service information within the Volvo system, but also added hands-on trouble shooting of pre-determined faults placed on a Volvo truck.