Trailer Technician Track Now In Its Second Year

TMCSuperTech2017 will once again feature a separate track for trailer technicians. The Trailer Technician Track recognizes the special challenges trailer technicians face in fleet and service provider operations. This year's Trailer Technician Track will consist of multiple skill areas. Testing begins on Saturday, Sept. 16, with orientation and an ASE-administered written that test takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Sunday, Sept. 17, is the Qualifying Rounds which involves 17 skill stations. Each station, featuring table-top equipment mock-ups, will be divided into 10 substations. Each station rotation will last 25 minutes.

Trailer technicians will compete in all 17 stations. However, only scores from selected stations will count toward their final score.

The Stations

The 17 skills stations are:

1. Lighting.

2. Fasteners.

3. RP (Recommended Practice) Manual.

4. Electrical Diagrams.

5. CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) Compliance.

6. Electrical #1.

7. Safety & Environmental.

8. Wheelend #1.

9. Torque.

10. Precision Measuring.

11. Coolants/DEF (diesel exhaust fluid).

12. CNG Safety.

13. Hydraulics.

14. Trailer Lighting.

15. Drive Belts.

16. Aftertreatment.

17. Cybersecurity.

The Finals

Those trailer technicians who qualify move on to Hand-On Skill Challenge (the finals), which takes place on Monday, Sept. 18. They will compete in 15 skill stations.

Each station will be divided into 7 substations. Each station lasts 23 minutes.

Skills stations 1 to 6 share space with the traditional TMCSuperTech track stations. Stations 7 to 15 are unique to the Trailer Track.

These 15 stations are:

T1. Brakes.

T2. Wheelend #2.

T3. Trailer Coupler.

T4. Electrical #2.

T5. Tire & Wheel.

T6. Liftgates.

T7. Trailer Alignment.

T8. Roll-Up Doors.

T9. Trailer Antilock Braking Systems.

T10. Trailer Electrical System Corrosion.

T11. 7-Pin Receptacle & Plug Repair.

T12. Trailer Fasteners.

T13. Trailer Wire Repair.

T14. Trailer PMI (preventive maintenance inspection).

T15. Trailer Wiring Schematics.

Twenty-three minutes will be allotted to each cycle, which includes orientation, instructions and task completion. 2016 Winners

Last year's first-ever TMCSuperTech Trailer Champion was Scott Davidson with TravelCenters of America.

Two of his colleagues from TravelCenters of America took second and third place respectively: Robert Anderson and Michael Kerfoot.

Sponsors

This year, the TMCSuperTech Trailer Technician Track is sponsored this year by Tech Force Foundation and Base Air Management.

Additional new sponsors since last year include:

- Aperia Technologies.

- JOST International.

- U.S. Xpress.

The inaugural TMCSuperTech Trailer Track sponsors, which continued their support for this year’s competition, are:

- Aurora Parts and Accessories.

- Great Dane Trailers.

 - Hutchens Industries.

- Hyundai Translead.

- Lite-Check.

- Mckinney Trailer Rentals.

- Peterson/Maxi-Seal.