The DAF European Service Team of the Year 2024 award has been won by technician Giacomo Paladino and service advisor Daniele Cagol from Interservice S.p.A. in Trento, Italy.
 
The trophy was presented after the biennial international competition, climaxing in a two-day final at DAF Trucks' headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The DAF European Service Team of the Year acknowledges the vital role played by workshop technicians and service advisors.
 
Teams from eighteen different countries, including from DAF dealers and service points across Europe, showcased their professional skills during the final. Both the technician and the service advisor had to complete a wide variety of challenging theoretical exercises and practical tasks related to engines and vehicles. Teams were required to possess a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of technical aspects associated with the vehicles while acting as a team.The DAF European Service Team of the Year 2024 award has been won by technician Giacomo Paladino and service advisor Daniele Cagol from Interservice S.p.A. in Trento, Italy.

UK participation (DAF Heroes)

Representing the UK and Ireland were Tom Davey and Andrew Coombes, both Master Technicians at MOTUS Commercials Avonmouth. Their participation followed their success in the precursor DAF Heroes event, an online knowledge and skills competition for DAF Technicians across the company’s 137 locations throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. Tom was crowned as UK Technician of the Year 2023 in the competition. Teaming up for the European Service Team of the Year competition, Tom and Andrew finished in a very creditable third position.

Speaking at the European Service Team of the Year event, Mark Price, Head of Aftersales in the southwest for DAF Dealer Motus Commercials, said, “It was a fantastic event, brilliantly organised and we were really proud to represent the UK. Every part of the event had been planned to the smallest detail, from the competition tasks to the daytime activities for the competitors’ partners, and the resounding success is a testament to the DAF teams involved. The camaraderie between DAF, the dealers and all the teams was a fantastic example of the DAF family.”

DAF European Service Team of the Year

“DAF organises the Service Team of the Year contest to underscore the value of expert workshop technicians and service advisors,” according to Twan Winters, Director After Sales at DAF Trucks. “DAF trucks are state-of-the-art vehicles that integrate the most modern technologies for highest efficiency, safety and driver comfort. A comprehensive and deep technical understanding is necessary to maintain these advanced trucks, while the service advisors must be able to communicate effectively with customers regarding the service provided.”
 
Job opportunities at DAF
“The importance of having strong service teams cannot be overstated in supporting the market growth DAF Trucks is facing. That is why DAF dealers across Europe always have opportunities available for skilled and enthusiastic technicians”, stated Albert Florijn, Director Dealer Workshop Services at DAF Trucks. “The service advisor and the technician work closely together to ensure optimal customer satisfaction. Our focus is on providing exceptional service and quality, down to the smallest details and the dealers’ Service Teams play a crucial role in this respect.”
 
‘A highly educational experience’
Service advisor Daniele Cagol and technician Giacomo Paladino astonishedly received their trophies. Giacomo expresses: “Seeing the extremely high level of the other teams, humility suits us best. Of course, we are incredibly proud, but we also thoroughly enjoyed the challenging tasks. Just like everyone, we had to push ourselves, making the event a highly educational experience.”