Mack engineer honored with prestigious ATA award

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. Mark Kachmarsky, chief project manager-product range management for Mack Trucks, recently received the Silver Spark Plug Award from the Technology and Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations.

The award is the highest honor given by TMC, North America’s main technical society for truck equipment, information technology and logistics professionals.

Kachmarsky has been a TMC member since 1989, working with various study groups including electrical, cab, electronics, and specialty vehicles. He has been involved in writing and updating several TMC Recommended Practice documents, and given various presentations on industry-related topics at the organization’s yearly conferences.

The Silver Spark Plug is awarded annually to individuals who have given five years active service in support of TMC leadership and/or activities preferably technically oriented; earned the respect of their peers and demonstrated industry leadership; and contributed new ideas, practices, or innovations in the management and maintenance of commercial motor vehicle technology.

Since the award’s 1968 inception under the Regular Common Carrier Conference Maintenance Committee, 165 individuals have been recognized with the Silver Spark Plug Award. With Kachmarsky’s recognition, Mack has the distinction of being the first and only truck OEM to have four recipients of the award, says the company.

Since joining Mack in 1978, Kachmarsky has worked in various capacities in engineering-product development prior to assuming his current role in product range management.

“We are very proud of Mark and the fine work he has done representing Mack in the technological advancement of the industry,” said Paul Vikner, Mack president and CEO.