Companies use various methods and measures to prepare their technicians to participate in the TMCSupertech. North America’s premier skills competition for professional commercial vehicle technicians, the event is put on by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) - and organization dedicated to improving transport equipment, its maintenance and maintenance management.
One step some companies take is to create their own technician skills competition. Another is having technicians compete in local, regional or state technician skills competitions.
The feeling is that technicians who take part in such competitions will be better equipped to compete at the national level because they gain some insight and experience into what they can expect.
What’s more, the top winners of state trucking association and maintenance council technician skills competitions automatically qualify for the TMCSuperTech.
In many cases, corporate, local, regional and state technician skills competitions mirror those conducted at the national TMCSuperTech competition and include written tests as well as hands-on diagnostic skills stations.
CONTEST GUIDANCE
Because of the large interest shown in its TMCSuperTech, TMC has developed the manual “How to Conduct a Technician Skills Competition.” It is intended to help organizations conduct their own technician skills competitions.
Along with providing step-by-step guidance, advice and recommendations, the manual describes how TMCSuperTech is organized and includes information on proper attire and safety for competitors, tools and parts, skills stations, scoring and judging. Sample forms and competition scoring sheets are included.
There are also guidelines on how organizations can establish and promote their competitions at a state/regional or corporate level, as well as details on how organizations can ensure their competition champions register to compete in the TMCSuperTech.
“How to Conduct a Technician Skills Competition” may be downloaded for free from TMC’s website: http://tmc.truckline.com. The publication can be found at the bottom of the “TMC News” section.
STATE COMPETITIONS
These are the state maintenance councils that currently conduct a professional technician skills competition:
Arkansas
Arkansas Maintenance & Technology Council
Springdale, AR
Skills Competition Contact: Tim Wilson
Phone: (479) 361-521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arkansastrucking.com
California
California Trucking Association
Sacramento, CA
Skills Competition Contact: Mike Siebert
Phone: (949) 413- 6632
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.caltrux.org
Delaware
Delaware Motor Transport Association
Dover, DE
Skills Competition Contact: Scott Malcolm
Phone: (302) 659-5294
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dmta1.com
Florida
Florida Trucking Association
Tallahassee, FL
Skills Competition Contact: Rob Carryl
Phone: (904) 422-1273
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fltrucking.org
Indiana
Indiana Motor Truck Association
Indianapolis, IN
Skills Competition Contact: Bobby Barger
Phone: (812) 523-5686
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.imtaonline.net
Kansas
Kansas Motor Truck Association
Topeka, KS
Skills Competition Contact: Warren Krauss
Phone: (785) 267-1641
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kmca.org
Kentucky
Kentucky Motor Transport Association
Frankfort, KY
Skills Competition Contact: David Wittery
Phone: (502) 584-5226
Email: n/a
Website: www.kmta.net
Maine
Maine Motor Transport Association
Augusta, ME
Skills Competition Contact: Todd Cotier
Phone: (207) 947-1106
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mmta.com
Montana
Motor Carriers of Montana
(The competition includes the Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming state trucking associations.)
Helena, MT
Skills Competition Contact: Frank Molodecki
Phone: (406) 896-3489
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mttrucking.org
Nebraska
Nebraska Trucking Association
Lincoln, NE
Skills Competition Contact: Suzanne Eggert
Phone: (402) 476-8504
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nebtrucking.com
New York
New York State Motor Truck Association
Albany, NY
Skills Competition Contact: Karen Kennett
Phone: (518) 458-9696
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nytrucks.org
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Trucking Association
Oklahoma City, OK
Chairman: Bonne Karim
Phone: (405) 641-5241
Email: bonnekarimyahoo.com
Website: www.oktrucking.org
Oregon
Oregon Trucking Associations
Portland, OR
Skills Competition Contact: Dean Moyer
Phone: (503) 209-3312
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ortrucking.org
South Carolina
South Carolina Trucking Association
Columbia, SC
Skills Competition Contact: Jeffrey Eargle
Phone: (803) 799-0047
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sctrucking.org
Tennessee
Tennessee Trucking Association
Nashville, TN
Skills Competition Contact: Glen McDonald
Phone: (901) 375-8501
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tntrucking.org
Texas
Texas Motor Transportation Association
Austin, TX
Skills Competition Contact: Lance Shillingburg
Phone: (512) 478-2541
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tmta.com
