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    • Year after year, one of the skills stations that gives the TMCSuperTech competitors the most difficulty is the Repair Order station. It will again be part of this year’s competition.
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    The Process For Getting Technicians Competing In The TMCSuperTech

    July 12, 2012
    It requires only a few steps

    Getting technicians to become competitors in the annual Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) TMCSuperTech - trucking’s only industry-wide competition aimed at honoring commercial vehicle technicians and recognizing the best of the best - requires only six steps.

    This National Technician Skills Competition is intended to allow technicians to demonstrate their high degree of skill and knowledge through a variety of diagnostic and problem-solving skills tests over the two-day event. Those that are the most proficient earn industry recognition and valuable prizes.

    The TMCSuperTech was organized in 2005 by TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee (PTDC), a group that promotes and enhances the professionalism of commercial vehicle technicians.

    STEP 1 - REGISTER

    Any commercial vehicle technician employed in the trucking industry may register for the TMCSuperTech.

    The entry fee for TMC technician members is $100. For non-member technicians, the entry fee is $200, which includes technician membership in TMC for the remainder of the year.

    The entry fee is waived for verified grand champions of 2012 state maintenance council commercial vehicle technician skills contests.

    STEP 2 - ATTEND

    The TMCSuperTech is held in conjunction with annual TMC Fall Meeting. This year, that meeting, the theme of which is Forging Solutions for Tomorrow’s Maintenance Challenges, takes place in Pittsburgh, PA, Monday through Thursday, September 10 to 13, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

    Upon checking in for the competition, registered competitors will receive their TMCSuperTech credentials and be asked to attend a special orientation for the competitors.

    STEP 3 - PRE-QUALIFY

    All TMCSuperTech competitors will compete in a challenge round on Monday afternoon. It will consist of a written, 100-question, multiple-choice examination and a hands-on pre-qualification skills test.

    Competitors will be given two hours to complete these tests.

    The PTDC Technician Training Fair will be held on Monday and Wednesday. Open to all TMCSuperTech competitors and fall meeting attendees, the Technician Training Fair offers a range of educational opportunities.

    The training sessions planned for this year are: Modern HVAC Control System Diagnostics, Fifth Wheel Systems, Understanding Loss of Tension in the Accessory Belt Drive System, Environmental Awareness and Safety Procedures, Repair Order Process Guidelines and Advanced Multimeter Techniques.

    By participating in these training sessions, competitors earn competitors additional bonus points which are counted in the scoring for the Hands-On Skills Challenge. A series of stations that cover key diagnostic skills areas, this is the final portion of the TMCSuperTech.

    STEP 4 - GATHER

    The TMCSuperTech2012 Reception will be held Monday evening following the pre-qualification testing. It is during this reception that the name of the competitors who have done well enough in the pre-qualification challenge round to advance to compete in the Hands-On Skills Challenge on Tuesday, September 11, are announced.

    Certified grand champions from state trucking association technician skills competitions skip the pre-qualification tests and are automatically included in the Hands-On Skills Challenge.

    After the reception, everyone has the opportunity to get a sneak peak at the Hands-On Skills Challenge stations.

    STEP 5 - COMPETE

    The Hands-On Skills Challenge takes place on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Qualifying competitors go through the series of 16 stations, covering the following diagnostic skills areas:

    • Brakes.
    • Drivetrain.
    • Electrical.
    • Engine (Electronics).
    • Engine (Hardware).
    • Fasteners/Fastener Repair.
    • Fifth Wheel.
    • HVAC.
    • P.M.I (Pre-Trip Inspection).
    • Repair Order.
    • Starting and Charging.
    • Service Information.
    • Suspension.
    • Tires and Wheels.
    • Trailer Alignment.
    • Wheel Ends.

    Spectators are welcome on the competition floor.

    STEP 6 - RECOGNIZE

    The winners of the TMCSuperTech2012 will be announced, and trophies and prizes presented, during the TMC Industry Awards Luncheon that takes place on Wednesday. Awards are given for first, second and third best in the overall competition.

    The technician who earns the first place honor is declared the TMCSuperTech Grand Champion. He or she will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2013 Daytona 500, plus other prizes, including a special trophy.

    In addition, his or her name will appear on the TMCSuperTech Grand Champion Banner that is displayed at every TMC meeting.

    Individuals who place Best in Skills Category for each of the Hands-On Skills Challenge stations will receive special prizes as well.

    How to give technicians an edge up at the TMCSuperTech

    Often times, for meeting any challenge, those that are well prepared and have an idea of what can be expected do better than those who have not made ready and have no clue.

    To prep their technicians for TMC’s National Technician Skills Competition, some companies and organizations hold their own preliminary TMCSuperTech-styled competitions.

    The TMC has produced a guidebook, How to Conduct a Technician Skills Competition, that can be a great resource for establishing such events. Available free of charge, it can be found at: http://www.truckline.com/federation/councils/tmc/documents/how2suprtc.pdf.

     

     

    TMCSuperTech2012 Schedule

    Saturday, Sept. 8

    9 a.m. - 6 p.m. TMCSuperTech2012 Competition Setup

    Sunday, Sept. 9

    9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration Desk Open

    10 a.m. - 6 p.m. TMCSuperTech2012 Competition Setup

    Monday, Sept. 10

    6:45 a.m. - 6 p.m. Registration Desk Open

    7 a.m. - 8 a.m. First Time Attendees and New Member Orientation Breakfast (Mentors invited)

    8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. PTDC Technician Training Fair

    • Training Session #1 - Modern HVAC Control System Diagnostics
    • Training Session #2 - Fifth Wheel Systems
    • Training Session #3 - Understanding Loss of Tension in the Accessory Belt Drive System

    All three sessions repeat per the following schedule: 8:30 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.; 9:35 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.; 10:40 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

    1 p.m. - 4 p.m. TMC SuperTech2012 Contestant Orientation and Qualifying Written Exams

    2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. PTDC Judges Meeting (on the competition floor)

    6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. TMCSuperTech2012 Welcome Reception and Hands-on Skills Challenge Finalists Announcement

    Tuesday, Sept. 11

    7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration Desk Open

    7 a.m. - 8 a.m. Buffet Breakfast

    8 a.m. - 4 p.m. TMC SuperTech2012 National Technician Skills Competition: Hands-on Skills Challenge

    Wednesday, Sept. 12

    6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration Desk Open

    6:30 - 7:30 a.m. Buffet Breakfast

    7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. PTDC Technician Training Fair

    • Training Session #4 - Environmental Awareness and Safety Procedures
    • Training Session #5 - Repair Order Process Guidelines
    • Training Session #6 - Advanced Multimeter Techniques

    All three sessions repeat per the following schedule: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.; 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.; 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

    12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. TMCSuperTech2012 Awards Luncheon 

    About the Author

    David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance

    Training Fair 1 10960915
    This year's TMC Fall Meeting is devoted to providing information and guidance to enable fleets to establish more specific maintenance programs and perform more accurate service diagnosis and repair to help reduce operating costs and increase long-term residual values.