TMC announces addition of trailer technician category to National Technician Skills Competition

American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council announces the addition of a new competition track for its National Technician Skills Competition — TMCSuperTech 2016. The new track will showcase the specialized skill set of the industry’s trailer technicians during this year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 18-21 at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C.

The new Trailer Technician Competition Track will run concurrently with the traditional commercial vehicle technician track, but will feature a number of specialized stations just for trailer technicians, in addition to a limited number of stations common to all professional technicians competing in this year’s event. Registration runs August 1-31.

“The work our industry’s technicians do is critical to keeping trucks on the road, moving America’s freight,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said. “Events like TMC’s National Skills Competition highlight not just that importance, but the proficiency of these highly skilled men and women.”

“The purpose of the new trailer technician track is to showcase the specialized set of skills these professionals use everyday to keep North America’s freight rolling and recognize a group of technicians who otherwise may not have a chance to compete at a national level in a technician competition,” said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of maintenance, information technology & logistics. “The technology finding its way on today’s trailers is every bit as complex as what’s found on tractors and straight trucks, and skills stations dedicated to this area are warranted.”

The trailer technician track will feature a total of 21 stations, including a written test and a number of skill-specific stations including Safety/Environmental, RP Manual, Trailer Lighting, Torque, Electrical/Electronics, Wheel End, Fasteners, Precision Measuring and Lighting Systems as well as six stations unique to the trailer track, which are: Trailer Alignment, Roll-up Doors, Trailer Antilock Braking System, Trailer Electrical System Corrosion, 7-Pin Connector Repair, and Trailer Fasteners.

Additionally, the trailer technicians will compete in the following stations on Tuesday that are shared with the all-encompassing professional TMCSuperTech 2016 track: Electrical/Electronics, Brakes, Tire & Wheel, Wheel End, Fifth Wheel and Liftgates.

NOTE: Technicians will not be able to compete in both the all-encompassing track and the specialized trailer track. For 2016, the trailer track will be limited to no more than 42 technicians.