The American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) is celebrating its fourth annual National Technician Appreciation week (NTAW) from Sept 24-30. First launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the event stood in for the canceled TMCSuperTech and TMCFutureTech competitions, as a way to honor the hard work and commitment technicians provide to the commercial vehicle industry. The week also aims to attract new talent to the trade, a critical endeavor in the face of the growing tech shortage.
“Technicians are part of the backbone of the trucking industry,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell in an ATA TMC Facebook post kicking of NTAW. “Without them, making sure vehicles are ready for service and in safe condition, drivers can't make the deliveries we rely on. This is the perfect time for our industry and the general public to show their appreciation and say, ‘Thank you’ to these important individuals and the valuable work they do.”
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems also released a statement honoring the nation’s technicians and the increasing complexity of their work.
“From the front of the tractor to the back of the trailer, the role of the professional technician has become more complex, more diverse, and more challenging thanks to the exponential leap in technologies present on today’s commercial vehicles,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director – demos, sales and service training in a release. “It’s a growing opportunity in a vital field. Without technicians, trucks go nowhere – and America stops.”
This week, smaller shops and individual dealers can show their appreciation for everything techs do, too. From providing a free lunch to offering gift cards or employee t-shirts, there are plenty of ways to give back to the men and women who keep shops open and trucks on the road. For more ideas, see some of Fleet Maintenance’s past reporting on how to show techs the love they deserve:
- Sweetening the deal for shop technicians
- Best tech appreciation tip? Feed them
- Shop owners share keys to keeping technicians happy
- Addressing top technician frustrations, according to WrenchWay
If you’d like to share how you celebrate your technicians, reach out to [email protected].
