Penske Australia & New Zealand has named Luke Andrew (pictured right) and Luke Reid (pictured left) its 2026 Penske Guild Master Technicians for on-highway and off-highway, respectively.
Aimed at promoting and rewarding technical excellence, Penske Guild comprises members from across its Australian and New Zealand network, culminating in a prestigious Master Technician competition biennially where technicians compete in qualification rounds prior to the final.
Held in Sydney last week, the event saw the 12 finalists race the stopwatch while undertaking a series of advanced diagnostic, troubleshooting and procedural challenges.
A leading hand at Penske’s Perth branch, Luke Andrew has worked across the company’s on-highway portfolio, including Western Star, MAN, Detroit and Allison Transmission for over five years.
Commencing his career with Penske as a dual-trade light vehicle mechanic and auto electrician, he upgraded his qualifications to heavy diesel and most recently spent the last year spearheading the Allison XTrans rebuild program.
“In a highly competitive on-highway field, Luke stood out through his focus, technical expertise and ability to perform under pressure,” says Leigh Henderson, chief operating officer and Penske Guild chair at Penske Australia & New Zealand.
“His performance throughout the competition reflected the dedication, capability and high standards he delivers to customers at our Perth branch each day.”
Based at Penske’s Darwin branch, Luke Reid joined the business in 2021 and has built extensive experience as a technician specialising in Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ mtu portfolio across Penske’s off-highway operations, including defence, energy solutions and mining applications.
A highly respected member of Penske’s Darwin team, he supports customers across vast distances, often travelling thousands of kilometres to keep critical equipment operating in some of Australia’s most remote locations.
“In an outstanding cohort of off-highway specialists, Luke demonstrated exceptional practical knowledge and remained calm, methodical and composed under pressure,” says Leigh.
“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.”
Jason Benedetti, Penske Australia & New Zealand technical training manager, says the competition has continued to evolve and strengthen over the past decade.
“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,” he said.
“Today, more than one-fifth of our technicians are Penske Guild members and therefore eligible to participate in the Master Technician competition.”
Luke Andrew and Luke Reid will enjoy trips overseas to the United States and Germany to visit the Western Star Trucks, Detroit and Team Penske facilities, and Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ mtu and MAN Truck & Bus plants, respectively.
“While earning the coveted Master Technician title and winning trips to visit our OEM partners is significant, the real winners are our customers,” says Leigh.
“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.”
To learn more about career opportunities with Penske, visit https://www.penskeanz.com/careers/.