TMC is holding a national competition to find the trucking industry’s best technician. Think you know someone that’s up to the challenge? If you or one of your employees thinks they have what it takes to place their diagnostic and problem solving skills up against trucking’s best of the best, then come to TMCSuperTech2007!
Organized by TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC), TMCSuperTech2007 will showcase the high degree of skill and knowledge shown everyday by trucking industry technicians. And it’s trucking’s first industry wide competition dedicated both to honoring technician professionalism and acknowledging the “best of the best.” What’s more, top winners will receive valuable prizes!
Here’s how to get involved in TMCSuperTech2007:
Step 1—
Register for TMCSuperTech2007!
Any technician employed in the trucking industry may register for TMC’s National Technician Skills Competition. Contestants must be a TMC technician member to compete, but the nominal entry fee of $100 will cover the cost of a TMC Technician Membership for one year. Technicians who are already current TMC Technician Members may register for TMCSuperTech2007 free of charge. Verified champions of state technician skills contests may also enroll without a fee. If needed, hotel accommodation information is provided on your registration form.
If your state trucking association or company is interested in holding their own preliminary SuperTech-styled event as a means of selecting finalists for TMCSuperTech2007, refer to TMC’s “How to Conduct a Technician Skills Competition” brochure, which can be downloaded from http://tmc.truckline.com
Step 2—
Come to Nashville for TMCSuperTech2007!
Come to TMC’s 2007 Fall Meeting at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville, TN, Sept. 24-27. When you arrive on Monday, Sept. 24, you’ll be given your TMCSuperTech credentials and you’ll be asked to attend a special orientation for contestants.
Step 3—
Compete in the TMCSuperTech Written Test Challenge
All contestants will compete in a challenge round on Monday afternoon, Sept. 24, consisting of a written multiple-choice examination. Contestants will be given one hour to complete the test.
Step 4—
Attend the TMCSuperTech2007 Reception
After the examination, it’s off to the TMCSuperTech2007 Reception. Everyone will get a sneak peak at the Skills Challenge stations, where the hands-on finals will take place the next day. It’s at this time that we will announce the names of the contestants who will compete in the finals on Tuesday, Sept. 19. A maximum of 84 contestants (limit is tentative, subject to change depending on available resources) will advance to compete in the Hands-On Skills Challenge. Certified grand champions from State Trucking Association contests will automatically be included in the Hands-On Skills Challenge. All finalists will receive a special prize package that includes a PC-service tool laptop!
Step 5—
Enjoy the TMCSuperTech Competition!
On Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., qualifying contestants will compete in a series of 12 stations, covering the following diagnostic skills areas:
• Electrical #1
• Electrical #2
• Brakes
• Steering
• Tires and Wheels
• PMI
• Wheel Ends
• Drivetrain
• HVAC
• Service Information
• Writing Repair Orders
• Engines
Lunch will be provided on the competition floor for all contestants, judges and other registered guests. Spectators will be welcome on the competition floor, too!
Step 6—
Attend Wednesday’s Awards Luncheon
We’ll announce the winners of the competition and present trophies and prizes during TMC’s Industry Awards Luncheon. Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best in the overall competition. Winners will also be named for those receiving the best score at each skills station.
1st Place: the TMCSuperTech Grand Champion will receive an expense-paid trip of their choice to the 2008 Daytona 500, Super Bowl, or other equivalent package, plus other prizes. The winner will also be presented with two trophies—one for themselves and one for display by their employer. Their name will also appear on the TMCSuperTech Grand Champion Banner that will be displayed at every TMC meeting.
Second place and third place winners will also receive trophies and valuable prizes. Individuals who place “Best in Skills Category” will also receive recognition.
TMC SuperTech 2007 Schedule
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
2 – 4 p.m.
* Contestant Orientation and Qualifying Written Exam
6:30 – 8 p.m.
* Welcome Reception & Announcement of Monday’s Skills Competition Finalists
TUESDAY, SEPT. 25
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Hands-on Diagnostic Challenge
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26
Noon - 2 p.m.
TMC Awards Luncheon
Added Bonus: PTDC Training Fair!
All TMC attendees and TMC SuperTech2007 contestants will be able to attend the PTDC’s Training Fair, a series of hands-on training sessions designed for technicians, shop supervisors and fleet managers and based on the skills stations held during the contest.
What’s more, this training qualifies for continuing education credit units accepted by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). Sessions are repeated during the Training Fair, so you maximize your training opportunities.
Basic Electrical/Electronics
This class will cover electrical/electronic system theory, proper use of a multimeter, and efficient diagnostic techniques for heavy-duty vehicles. If you don’t think your technicians need a refresher course on the basics, think again. Fewer than 30 percent of technicians—including many with ASE certification—scored higher than 70 percent on a TMC basic electrical skills test administered in 2000.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
7 – 8:15 a.m. & 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Tire Inspection and Maintenance
This session will cover tire inspection and the basics of tire complaint, cause and correction, with an emphasis on recognizing wear patterns, determining the root cause for a particular wear pattern and identifying recommended repairs or adjustments.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
7 – 8:15 a.m. & 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Cooling System Maintenance
This primer on proper cooling system maintenance procedures, based on TMC recommended practices, will cover both conventional and extended service interval coolants as well as the various major components of the cooling system and its controls.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
7 – 8:15 a.m. & 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Trailer Suspension Maintenance and Inspection
This class will cover the basics of trailer suspension maintenance and suspension maintenance, and will address maintenance requirements for spring and air-ride suspensions as well as failure analysis/diagnostic techniques and component inspection.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
7 – 8:15 a.m. & 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Commercial Tire Inflation and Monitoring Systems
This session will cover maintenance and operation of tire pressure equalizers, electronic and mechanical tire pressure monitoring and maintenance devices as well as central tire inflation systems.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. & 3:45 – 5 p.m.
Diagnostics Using Onboard Vehicle Communication
This class will cover common communication protocols and the vehicle “controller area network” (CAN), recognizing similarities and differences between the J1708/1587 and J1939 interfaces, and how to effectively diagnose communications problems in these data lines.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. & 3:45 – 5 p.m.
Career Path Development for Technicians
This seminar will present strategies by which a technician can make the move a supervisory role, then on to management. The session will provide direction on what characteristics the trucking industry is looking for in future leadership.
Wednesday, Sept. 26—
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. & 3:45 – 5 p.m.