With many fleets facing technician shortages – a challenge that is compounded by the need for staff that is trained to maintain and repair more complex vehicle systems, it is essential for industry suppliers and carriers to support programs that promote careers as fleet technicians. This includes student skills competitions that help participants set their sights on the future.
Last year, Velociti proudly became the exclusive sponsor of the National Student Technician Competition, TMCFutureTech. The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) holds the TMCFutureTech in conjunction with its annual National Technician Skills Competition, TMCSuperTech, wherein commercial vehicle technicians compete for tops honors and numerous prizes.
Perhaps the best testament to the value of TMCFutureTech comes from this year’s event winner, Daniel Hanna, a second-year student pursuing an associate in applied science degree in the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“Attending TMCFutureTech has helped me definitely see myself continuing in the field as a diesel technician,” says Hanna. “FutureTech is a great way to learn how to apply, in the real world, the skills and industry standards I learn every day at Forsyth Tech.”
INTERNAL COMPETITIONS
Hanna, who is employed part-time at a medium and heavy duty truck dealership, was sponsored at TMCFutureTech by the WheelTime Network, a dedicated service and parts network that operates more than 200 service centers in the U.S. and Canada. He was chosen to compete in the competition after placing among the top students at an internal WheelTime technician competition.
“Internal competitions and TMCFutureTech show young people interested in a career as a technician that we’re committed to them,” says George Arrants, director of training and recruitment at WheelTime and contest chairman for the TMCFutureTech and TMCSuperTech competitions. “These events expose students, educators and administrators to the occupation and its opportunities.”
WheelTime’s president and CEO Mike Delaney adds that while “technician training lights a fire, competitions are like spraying it with lighter fluid. It helps participants strive toward perfection. For all types of service providers, the issue of recruiting technicians is now first and foremost, and it’s a big challenge to get students excited.
“The technician of the future understands the value of learning and has a voracious appetite for new information,” he continues. “We support programs like the one at Forsyth Tech and student technician competitions like TMCFutureTech because they help set the hook and create stronger, more knowledgeable future technicians.”
“Daniel’s experience at TMCFutureTech has helped propel him to excel and sparked an interest in other students in Forsyth Tech's Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program to be on top of their game at all times,” says Matthew Doub, program coordinator.
“It has also caused other industry supporters to take a closer look at our program, which includes industry-directed training designed to make sure graduating students have the skills needed to be exceptional technicians,” he notes.
PARTICIPATION
As part of the trucking industry, it’s important that suppliers do everything possible to help fleets address an often overlooked but very real technician shortage. Sponsoring internal student competitions and industry events like TMCFutureTech goes a long way toward shining a light on this challenge and supporting the effort to attract new technicians.
Velociti, which is also a platinum-level Friend of the Technician sponsor (the program works to improve the image of truck technicians and attract new technicians to the commercial vehicle industry), presented a starter toolbox to the top three student finishers in the TMCFutureTech. Hanna, from Forsyth Technical Community College, earned first place. Jonathan Kelly, Southside Virginia Community College, finished second. Karl Kerutis, WyoTech Blairsville, placed third.
Velociti will present electric training boards to the schools of these individuals at TMC's 2016 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.
Deryk Powell is president and COO of Velociti (www.velociti.com), a global provider of technology deployment services, specializing in the installation and service of a broad range of transportation and networking technology products. With responsibility for overall management of the company’s strategic growth initiatives and client relationships, he routinely works with clients from a wide variety of market segments.
