Penske names 2026 Master Technicians

Penske Australia & New Zealand has named Luke Andrew and Luke Reid as its 2026 Penske Guild Master Technicians for on-highway and off-highway respectively.

The pair emerged from 12 finalists who competed in Sydney last week, undertaking a series of advanced diagnostic, troubleshooting and procedural challenges against the clock.

The biennial Master Technician competition is part of Penske Guild, which aims to promote and reward technical excellence across the company’s Australian and New Zealand network.

Andrew is a leading hand at Penske’s Perth branch and has worked across its on-highway portfolio, including Western Star, MAN, Detroit and Allison Transmission, for more than five years.

He joined Penske as a dual-trade light vehicle mechanic and auto electrician before upgrading his qualifications to heavy diesel. More recently, he has spent the past year leading the Allison XTrans rebuild programme.

Penske Australia & New Zealand chief operating officer and Penske Guild chair Leigh Henderson says Andrew stood out in a highly competitive field.

“In a highly competitive on-highway field, Luke stood out through his focus, technical expertise, and ability to perform under pressure,” Henderson says.

“His performance throughout the competition reflected the dedication, capability, and high standards he delivers to customers at our Perth branch each day.”

Reid is based at Penske’s Darwin branch and joined the company in 2021. He specialises in Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ mtu portfolio across off-highway operations including defence, energy solutions and mining.

His role involves supporting customers across remote parts of Australia, often travelling thousands of kilometres to keep critical equipment operating.

“In an outstanding cohort of off-highway specialists, Luke demonstrated exceptional practical knowledge and remained calm, methodical, and composed under pressure,” Henderson says.

“His professional and thorough approach to problem-solving was evident throughout the final and showcased the technical excellence that Penske Guild seeks to recognise.

“Both Lukes are worthy winners and outstanding ambassadors for the values that the Penske Guild represents: a commitment to customer service excellence through technical expertise, rigorous diagnostics, and timely problem resolution.”

Penske Australia & New Zealand technical training manager Jason Benedetti says the standard of the competition has continued to improve since it was established a decade ago.

“Since the inaugural Master Technician competition 10 years ago, the calibre of entrants has continued to rise, reflecting the investment we make in technical training and professional development across our business,” Benedetti says.

“Today, more than one-fifth of our technicians are Penske Guild members and therefore eligible to participate in the Master Technician competition.”

Andrew and Reid will receive overseas trips as part of their wins.

Andrew will travel to the United States to visit Western Star Trucks, Detroit and Team Penske facilities, while Reid will travel to Germany to visit Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ mtu and MAN Truck & Bus plants.

“While earning the coveted Master Technician title and winning trips to visit our OEM partners is significant, the real winners are our customers,” Henderson says.

“As our technicians continue to develop their skills and expertise, customers across Australia and New Zealand benefit from an even higher standard of service, technical support, and uptime.”