The national technician skills competition presented by Technology & Maintenance Council is designed to showcase a technician’s knowledge and skills with medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, including both theory and practical application.

Vehicle repair and maintenance is only as good as the knowledge and skills of the technicians that perform the work. Consequently, the more successful fleets and maintenance operations invest in continuous training for their technicians to help them keep up with new vehicle technology and diagnostic and repair equipment.

Fleet’s technicians can take part in TMCSuperTech, a national technician skills competition dedicated to both honoring technician professionalism and acknowledging the best of the best.

This annual two-day event is purposely designed to showcase a technician’s knowledge, skills and aptitude with medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, including both theory and practical application.

Competitors come to not just win but revel in the camaraderie and excitement. TMCSuperTech is put on by the Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC) of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC).

This year’s competition is in conjunction with TMC’s annual fall meeting, “Maintenance Solutions You Can Count On,” from Sept. 19 to 22 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The competition is open to any actively employed commercial vehicle technician. Most competitors come from private companies, although a number come from having won their state, regional or company technician skills competition.

Comprehensive Challenges

The first stage of the TMCSuperTech is a 100 question examination and a hands-on skills pre-qualification test. The written exam is based on tests prepared by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

The top 100 scorers from the pre-qualification round move on to the Hands-On Skills Challenge. This is a series of 25 minute long stations that cover 14 key diagnostic skills areas. Each station has its own set of challenges.

The stations for TMCSuperTech2011 are the following: electrical; brakes; starting and charging; tires and wheels; wheel ends; trailer alignment; engine (hardware); suspension; PMI (pre-trip inspection); drivetrain; service information; repair order; fasteners/fastener repair and fifth wheel.

Training Fair

As part of the TMCSuperTech, the Professional Technician Development Committee hosts a Technician Training Fair. The series of training sessions were created to help commercial vehicle technicians, shop supervisors and fleet managers stay current on the latest technologies and techniques related to vehicle service and maintenance.

This year’s training sessions are on fifth wheel inspection and maintenance; operation and maintenance of alternators and starters; repair order process guidelines; trailer alignment basics; steering and suspension maintenance; and electrical troubleshooting.

The training, open to all competitors and meeting attendees, qualifies for continuing education credit units accepted by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.

Meeting Program

The annual TMC fall meeting’s technical sessions will cover a wide range of topics and issues. Scheduled sessions include an update of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s wireless/smart roadside initiatives, a discussion about how the industry can best leverage the power of TMC’s recommended practices and a look at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability regulations’ truck safety initiative program and how it has changed the way drivers and fleets approach fleet maintenance.

In addition, the TMC fall meeting offers a fleet operators’ forum, vehicle maintenance session and failure analysis session.

Complete details on the TMCSuperTech national technician skills competition and the fall meeting of the Technology & Maintenance Council, along with registration information, are available on the TMC’s website at http://tmc.truckline.com or 703/838-1763. BI