Cox Automotive’s Top Tech 2025: Because Who Doesn’t Want to Watch Mechanics Take Written Tests?

In the grand tradition of corporate Olympics nobody outside the company knew existed, Cox Automotive has once again hosted its Top Tech 2025 competition—a high-stakes event where the nation’s elite fleet technicians swap their grease-stained coveralls for… slightly cleaner grease-stained coveralls, then compete for the title of “Grand Champion” across categories like Heavy-Duty Truck, Light/Medium Duty Truck, and Trailer.

Yes, you read that right. It’s a contest where changing a tire faster than the guy next to you can earn you eternal glory—or at least a branded trophy and the chance to fly to Raleigh, North Carolina, for the nationwide TMC SuperTech finals.

800 Techs, 30 Finalists, and One Corporate Pep Talk

More than 800 Cox techs entered the fray this year, a number that makes you wonder if anyone was left to actually fix the cars during the event. Out of that pool, 150 were chosen for regionals, and 30 earned their way to the Top Tech finals. That’s right: fewer than 4% made it to the finish line—a selection rate that would make Harvard admissions blush.

Competitors had to endure both written and hands-on tests, because nothing says “elite mechanic” like filling out a multiple-choice exam under fluorescent lights. We can only imagine the questions:

• What’s the torque spec of a 2014 Freightliner brake chamber?
• If a check engine light blinks in the forest and no one is around to hear it, is it still under warranty?
• True or false: You can fix a Tesla with duct tape if you believe in yourself.

The Corporate Quotes Nobody Asked For

Like any self-respecting press release, Cox trotted out the executives to gush about the event.

Patrick Brennan, SVP of Fleet Services, praised the competitors for “sharing knowledge” and “building community,” which is corporate-speak for “at least nobody threw a wrench at anyone.” Meanwhile, Alan Lang, SVP of Physical Services and Auctions, reminded us that Cox’s “world-class technicians are the foundation of Manheim’s growth.” Translation: without these techs, the used-car auction empire collapses faster than a used Fiat’s suspension.

Station-Specific Awards: Because Everyone Gets a Trophy

In addition to the grand champions, Cox also handed out “station-specific awards.” That’s corporate HR code for we didn’t want anyone to feel left out. Participation ribbons may not have been confirmed, but we wouldn’t bet against them.

Why Does This Matter?

You may be wondering why Top Tech 2025 deserves your attention in an age where AI is writing code, driving cars, and probably diagnosing your check-engine light before you do. The answer is simple: somebody still has to keep the wheels literally turning.

And unlike your Tesla software update that bricks the car until Elon tweets an apology, these folks actually know how to use a wrench.

The Snarky Takeaway

So let’s give credit where it’s due: Cox Automotive managed to turn routine maintenance skills into a reality-TV-adjacent spectacle. It may not be “Top Chef” or “The Great British Bake Off,” but hey—“Top Tech” is at least proof that the humble mechanic finally gets a moment in the spotlight… even if the spotlight is powered by fluorescent bulbs in a convention center outside Atlanta.

Good luck to the winners at the national competition in Raleigh. May your torque wrenches be calibrated, your sockets never lost, and your corporate pep talks mercifully short.