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Mihai differs from his predecessors in two distinct ways: He was born and lived in Romania until his mid-20s, and he works for a Canadian motor carrier. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

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NASHVILE, Tenn. — Like his predecessors, the new chairman of the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations has an impressive background in truck maintenance. But Radu Mihai differs from his predecessors in two distinct ways: He was born and lived in Romania until his mid-20s, and he works for a Canadian motor carrier.

Mihai, installed on March 10 as TMC chairman and treasurer for 2025-2026, is corporate fleet manager for Calgary, Alberta-based . And his climb to the top of TMC’s ladder was no cake walk, according to Robert Braswell, TMC’s executive director.

It can easily take up to 15 years for someone to display the talent and hard work to elevate to the top of the council’s ranks, Braswell said. Such was the case for Mihai, 47, who began attending TMC events in 2010 and worked his way up by 2016 to become chairman of TMC’s highly regarded S.3 Engine and Motor Study Group. Later, he joined TMC’s board of directors, setting the stage for his chairmanship.

“At TMC, in order to be elected to the board of directors you have to hit a number of landmarks in terms of your voluntarism, and you have to be selected by your peers for a number of awards before you can even run to become a member of the board,” Braswell said. “It’s a fairly high bar.”

Braswell noted that Mihai distinguished himself during his time in the , which focuses on the design and maintenance of engines, motors and components used in on-highway vehicles. It studies malfunctions, deficiencies and failures of engine and motor systems and investigates future developments in engine components and accessories.

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Braswell��

“He was vice chairman of that group from 2013-2016,” Braswell said. “During that time he chaired CNG-LNG task forces that led to the development of several Recommended Practices on natural gas vehicle maintenance and specification. That was just before the headlong rush to electric vehicles and there was a great deal of interest into natural gas.”

are voluntary guidelines that assist equipment users, vehicle and component manufacturers and other industry suppliers in the maintenance of commercial vehicles.

Of Mihai, Braswell added, “He’s very diligent in his tasks. When he sets his mind to do something, he follows it through to the conclusion.”

Former S.3 chairman Randy Tumbarello praised Mihai’s attention to detail.

“I would say his strongest attribute is his analytical ability,” said Tumbarello, a 2016 recipient of TMC’s prestigious Silver Spark Plug. “He definitely is a closet number-cruncher. As he grew with the group, he was able to advance his listening skills. He does show compassion for both sides of an equation.”

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The political landscape makes now a unique time for a Canada-based TMC chairman like Mihai. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

Tumbarello added, “The change in the cost of equipment, the maintenance of the equipment, and the level of expertise it takes for in-house mechanics — S.3 became the premier study group, because all things lead to the engine.”

As chairman Mihai said he has no set agenda, but believes “teaching and learning” should be part of the chairman’s duty. But he views meeting people and making relationships as equally important.

“Good people are hard to come by,” he said. “If you work hard, do the right thing, right things will follow.”

“I think he’s passionate about wanting to develop people,” said immediate past Chair Amanda Schuier, strategic maintenance director at Houston-based Jetco Delivery. “Leadership is a value that both he and I have shared, and have in common.” She added, “He is very good at what he does in his day job and has been more than available to help me when I’ve had questions. I think he just brings a unique perspective than potentially some of our other chairman, just being Canada-based.”

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Schuier speaks at the 2024 TMC Annual Meeting. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

Schuier noted that the political landscape makes now a unique time for a Canada-based TMC chairman.

“Geopolitically it will be interesting during the year, with all the tariffs and stuff that’s going on,” she said. “It will be an interesting perspective that he’s going to have. He’s already saying that it’s affecting him at work.”

Mihai declined to comment on the Canadian tariff situation. “I am not a politician,” he said.

Schuier also appreciates Mihai’s personal side.

“One of the things I have come to appreciate about him is his sense of humor,” she said. “He’s actually a pretty funny guy.”

Tumbarello said others sometimes rib Mihai about his native accent.

“He has a pretty thick Romanian accent,” Tumbarello said. “I used to joke with him early on that when he gets excited or passionate he talks so fast that you can’t understand him. Myself and several colleagues have coached him to take a deep breath before he speaks.”

“He’s a great guy, and he definitely always has your back and is supportive,” added Paul Cigala, a senior CVL Applications Engineer at ExxonMobil Products Solutions Company. “He’s very reserved, but he stands up for what he believes in. He’s done a great job in all of the roles that he has had. He’s going to be a great general chairman for TMC.”

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