Top 10 of 2013: Finding, keeping and training a tech

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Updated Dec 30, 2013

The No. 3 story from Truck Parts & Service took an in-depth look at the challenges facing today’s technicians as technology continues to evolve.

David Milne, with the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC), says today’s techs are facing a unique challenge rarely seen before.

“We are currently training technicians for jobs that we don’t know what they’ll be like,” he says, adding that the continual evolution of on-board computers has pushed available training to its limits. “Throughout (the technicians’) careers, probably every component on that truck is going to have an electrical tie in with it.”

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“What is a vehicle now,” Tom Kotteno with Snap-on Nexiq asks. “It is a group of computers; a group of sensors.”

Darry Stuart, President and CEO of DWS Fleet Management Services, says that while technicians’ skills can vary, one asset is a must.

“They need a CDL,” he says. “That’s number one. If for nothing else, that training gives them some basic awareness and basic repair skills.”

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Once you’ve found a good group of techs and have their work habits organized, you’ve got to keep their skill set sharp.

With hundreds of different types of training and nearly as many “schools”, Milne says picking the right type of training can be a daunting task.

“The first step is to evaluate tech staff on their training needs by identifying knowledge gaps,” he said.

To read the original article in its entirety, click here.

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