For the first time in history, a New Zealand team has earned a coveted spot in the Mack Masters global finals, marking a significant milestone for the nation's trucking industry. The inaugural New Zealand champions, team "Barking Mack" from Truckstops in Whangarei, will represent their country on the world stage after triumphing in a fiercely competitive regional contest.

This year was the first time the Mack Masters competition, a global event designed to sharpen aftersales expertise and foster teamwork, was extended to New Zealand. The Kiwi participation brought a new level of excitement, and the local teams rose to the challenge. The competition proved incredibly intense, with 23 teams achieving perfect scores, leading to a "high-pressure sudden death round" where both accuracy and response time determined the finalists. 

Scott Holt, General Manager for Mack Trucks in New Zealand, expressed immense pride in the local achievement. “It’s a privilege to have a New Zealand team included in this Global competition,” he said. Holt emphasised that the Truckstops service network fully embraced the event, not only to showcase their passion for the Mack brand but also "to improve knowledge and skills to better support our customers," thereby affirming the strength of aftermarket support in New Zealand. 

The sentiment was shared by company leadership, who recognized the importance of the Kiwi debut. Tony O’Connell, Vice President of Mack Trucks Australia, noted, "Having... our very first New Zealand team heading to the US makes this year particularly special. We’ll be cheering them on every step of the way".

Barking Mack will now join two Australian teams—VMAC_IV+ from Sydney and Night Riders from Brisbane—at the Global Championship Finals in Allentown and New York in November 2025. Allentown, Pennsylvania, is historically significant as the city where Mack Trucks was headquartered for many decades, adding a layer of heritage to the finals.There, the world's best service, warranty, and parts professionals will face off in demanding, hands-on workshop tasks to determine the global champion.