American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) yesterday launched its annual National Technician Skills Competitions, TMCSuperTech 2019, at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C.
“As technology continues to transform the way fleets operate, staying ahead of that curve is critical as maintenance professionals seek new prospects for technical achievement,” says TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “These competitions and this meeting bring together leading minds from across our field and serve as a catalyst for the thought leadership and ingenuity needed to solve new and emerging maintenance challenges.”
This year marks the competition’s 15th and 132 technicians from around the country will be competing in three tracks, heavy-duty, trailer and light/medium vehicle, alongside 49 students in the council’s National Student Technician Competition, TMCFutureTech 2019, sponsored by the TechForce Foundation.
Randy Patterson, senior field engineer, Bridgestone Commercial Tire Operations, is serving in his first year as competition chairman.
“As trucking evolves and grows to meet the demands of an e-commerce driven supply chain, this is a pivotal time to become a diesel engine or truck technician,” says Braswell. “And as the industry grasps with a shortage of qualified technicians, this event shines a bright light on the professional skill and expertise these jobs require and the opportunities they provide to those who pursue them.”
In conjunction with the competitions, TMC is holding its 2019 Fall Meeting, which will examine the critical issues driving today’s world of increasing vehicle complexity and rapid technological change, the council says. The three-day meeting will feature a wide range of programming, including industry standard-setting task force and technical sessions, the Professional Technician Development Committee’s Technician Training Fair and TMC’s Shop Talk, a free-form discussion on equipment issues.
