American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council will hold its 2016 Fall Meeting and annual National Technician Skills Competitions — TMCSuperTech 2016 and TMCFutureTech 2016 — September 18 to 22 at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C.
“We’re certainly living through interesting times in our industry and our meeting topics are all about crafting solutions to the environmental, economic and regulatory challenges that we face every day,” said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of maintenance, information technology and logistics. “Our technician skills competition recognizes the technical achievements of our technicians, whether in service with fleets, leasing companies, dealerships or other service providers. This is an important time to promote those skills and encourage new technicians to join our industry.”
“The work our industry’s technicians do is critical to keeping trucks on the road, moving America’s freight,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “Events like TMC’s National Skills Competition highlight not just that importance, but the proficiency of these highly skilled men and women.”
TMC’s Fall Meeting will feature such important technical sessions as the evolution of engine coolants, 48V electric systems, preventive maintenance strategies, electronic stability control and operational awareness of electronic logging, hydraulic system component failure analysis, technician retention and implementing green architecture for fleet operations.
More than 100 Task Forces will meet on September 19 to continue work on recommended practices, information reports and position papers. TMC’s annual Fleet Talk will provide the opportunity for maintenance and equipment professionals to exchange information related to equipment problems. During the opening Town Meeting, TMC’s Fleet Operator’s Forum will provide the opportunity for maintenance and equipment professionals to seek redress for unresolved equipment issues they have with manufacturers.
Concurrently with the TMC Fall Meeting, technicians from across the country will compete in the National Technician Skills Competition and National Student Technician Competition. TMCSuperTech 2016 activities begin on September 18, with orientation and a qualifying written test, and qualifying rounds of diagnostic skills competition to be held Monday with a reception and announcement of competitors advancing to Tuesday’s hands-on skills challenge. TMCFutureTech 2016 — sponsored by Velociti — will challenge student technicians with hands-on skill station challenges on September 20. Winners of both competitions will be announced at Wednesday’s TMCSuperTech 2016 Awards Luncheon — open to both contestants and meeting attendees.
TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee will host a Technician Training Fair open to both technician competitors and meeting attendees. Sessions will include Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Aftertreatment Systems, Filter Technology Fundamentals and Fan Clutch Technology Overview.
The North American Transportation Management Institute and TMC will jointly hold for courses for those applying for Certified Director of Maintenance and Certified Supervisor of Maintenance certifications on September 22 and 23.
