Be a Part of SuperTech2007!

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.