ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) has a proud history many decades long in helping fleet professionals improve equipment, maintenance practices, and maintenance management. So, how does TMC work for you?
With experienced professionals from a broad cross-section of fleets, equipment suppliers, educators, and service providers, no other industry trade association matches the real-world experience and technical expertise of TMC’s membership. As a TMC member, that experience and expertise is at your fingertips.
By providing leadership support and opportunities to collaborate, TMC helps members develop the industry’s best practices that address the critical technology and maintenance issues that have the greatest impact on truck fleets. That means reliable answers to the challenges you face every day in this industry.
For more than 60 years, TMC’s member-driven Recommended Maintenance and Engineering Practices have been setting the standards that help trucking companies specify and maintain their fleets more effectively. TMC’s industry best practices also provide guidance to manufacturers in the design of their equipment. That means the Council’s institutional knowledge on how to best specify and maintain equipment is at your disposal 24/7.
TMC has grown into an organization of more than 2,300 members with representatives from virtually every sector of the industry, including fleets, owner/operators, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, educators, press, association representatives, and technicians. That means we have the largest, most diverse group of maintenance and equipment experts available to help you answer whatever technical challenges your company might face.
TMC’s technical information is developed by consensus and is non-commercial. TMC members work hard to ensure that the solutions the Council provides are technically sound and not motivated by commercial bias. This means you can trust what TMC says when using our information to improve your operation.
TMC succeeds because of its volunteer membership. Without volunteers, the Council simply could not function. This means your input is not only wanted, but it is also essential. You have numerous opportunities to contribute as well as benefit from TMC’s rich tradition of technical excellence. This includes opportunities to chair committees, access study groups, task forces, and other industry groups that support the Council’s mission.
TMC delivers a host of tangible member benefits that include publications, periodicals, technical resources, access to technical meetings and events, and other services designed to make you better at your job in commercial vehicle specification and maintenance. That means there are lots of tools in the TMC toolbox that members can leverage to get things done the right way.
TMC’s professional staff serves as a conduit to all of the services and opportunities that await you as Council members. That means you can consider TMC staff as an extension of your own team, helping you find solutions and make connections.
TMC members enjoy substantial discounts on meetings, products, and other services. That means you save even more as a TMC member when you come to meetings, buy products, or utilize TMC services.
Now that we’ve discussed a few of the many ways TMC works for you, let’s examine some specifics that pertain to your benefits.
Tips to make the most of attending a TMC meeting
TMC has two General Meetings each year:
- An Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition in February or March
- A Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competitions in September or October
These are the largest events TMC holds, at which full Council business takes place over four or five days, including meetings of task forces, study groups, committees, exhibitions, competitions, and more. Usually, these are in-person events; however, under certain circumstances, they may be completely virtual or hybrid (in-person and virtual) events.
TMC also has a Summer Conference, typically held in June. This is a smaller event, typically only one or two days in length, which can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. There are also webinars and other online events that may be held during the course of the year for educational or Council business purposes.
Getting to a TMC General Meeting in person is a big commitment of your time and your company’s money. To make the most of this, take advantage of these hints provided by long-time TMC attendees:
Participate: Every TMC leader will tell you he or she gets more out of TMC by being an active participant. Pick at least one Study Group and volunteer your services to the Study Group Chairman. That’s how every TMC leader gets started. If you have five or less years of experience in the industry, consider TMC’s Leaders of Tomorrow Program, which trains individuals to assume leadership roles within the Council.
Develop contacts: Talk to Full and Associate Members. If you’re a first-timer, start by visiting the people at TMC’s Welcome & Help Desk. They are there to help you get started on the right foot and can match you with a TMC mentor to help you best get involved and maximize your investment in TMC. There is also ample opportunity to make contacts during coffee breaks, between meetings, and at social functions. The person sitting next to you at lunch may tell you something that can save your company thousands of dollars. Everyone at TMC shares your concerns, and sometimes your problems. These are people you can work with later via phone, text, email, or TMC’s social media and collaborative work platform TMC Connect.
Arrive on time: Always try to arrive at a TMC General Meeting for the first day’s business. That’s when TMC’s Task Force Meetings, Fleet Talk, Associates Meeting, Town Meeting, and Fleet Operators’ Forum are held. These sessions should not be missed. Try to arrive the day before if you are working with a Task Force. That will give you some time to prepare. Once a TMC General Meeting gets underway, there isn’t time for much else.
Come prepared: Bring your specific maintenance and/or equipment problems with you for discussion at the Fleet Operators’ Forum. If it does not require a manufacturer solution, fellow maintenance managers have probably had—and solved—the same problem. If it hasn’t been solved, TMC will help you solve it. A link to an online form is sent with your registration confirmation. Fill it out before coming to the meeting while the problems are fresh in your mind. Also, use the pre-meeting information about Technical Sessions and Study Group meetings. If the presentation is on paints and paint shop operations, talk to your paint shop to find out what kinds of problems they have. TMC attracts the best manufacturer representatives in the industry. They will answer your questions authoritatively. A small investment of preparation before coming to a TMC meeting pays big dividends.
Ask questions: Raise questions during Technical Sessions and Study Group meetings. This generates worthwhile discussion and gets everyone more involved. If you don’t understand something about TMC, grab an Officer (they’re the ones wearing the red blazers). They’re happy to tell you everything you need to know about TMC and how to make it work for you. After all, it’s your organization. If it’s not working for you, do something about it.
Take notes: TMC’s Technical Journal, The Trailblazer, covers the official proceedings of the meetings, but you shouldn’t depend on that to cover every last detail. Everything you hear at a TMC General Meeting will probably interest someone in your company even if it doesn’t interest you directly. Take good notes, and give them to the people who work for you and the people you work for.
See something in the area: TMC meetings happen all over the country. If you’re a Full Member and we’re meeting in Seattle, for instance, try to visit the Paccar proving grounds. This will enhance your job effectiveness and provide your company with excellent contacts. Do something like that enough times and you’ll soon have a broad industry perspective, making you even more valuable on the job. If you’re an Associate Member, try to see a fleet operation.
A final word
An organization is only as good as its least-active member. You have to participate in TMC activities to make it work. This is your Council. Work with it, and you’ll be a leader in your industry.
“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds,” said philosopher Francis Bacon. TMC is opportunity waiting to be made.
