Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted an exemption requested by American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) to alleviate the diesel technician shortage. The new policy, which ATA asked for in 2020, is expected to cut the time new techs need to spend preparing to enter the workforce, while still maintaining high standards for safety and competency.
Under the new policy, techs will be allowed to skip the federally required one-year of training or experience needed to conduct commercial vehicle inspections and brake-related repair and maintenance under the condition that they receive training based on TMC’s Recommended Practices. There are over 500 RP's outlining procedures for inspecting, repairing, or replacing components on commercial vehicles, all of which are available in TMC’s Recommended Practices Manual.
“TMC, through its Study Groups and Task Forces, has developed a robust set of Recommended Practices, and these RPs form the backbone of the knowledge leadership the Council provides to its members and the industry,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “This exemption recognizes that TMC’s RPs meet the industry standard for technical knowledge, and technicians who are trained on them are more than capable of performing essential work.”
The exemption applies to motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers, and individuals, allowing them to self-certify that they have completed a training program based on TMC’s RPs. This RP-based training and certification, rather than the currently required year of additional training or work experience, “would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulatory requirements,” FMCSA said.
“We believe that by allowing technicians trained in programs based on TMC’s Recommended Practices, the industry can make it easier and more efficient for new technicians to enter the industry,” Braswell explained. “The industry continues to face a persistent shortage of technicians, so anything we can do to cut red tape and get students and young people onto the shop floor quickly will help address it.”
