Long says one of his goals as chairman is to raise the awareness of students about career opportunities as heavy-duty truck technicians. A TMC member since 1996, he has been involved closely with the formation of the council’s Professional Technician Development Committee and its National Technician Skills Competition, chairing several task forces and serving as PTDC chairman from 2007 to 2010. Long was elected to TMC’s board of directors in 2010, serving this past year as vice chairman and chairman of meetings.
At Southeastern, Long, with the help of six field engineers, reviews the specifications and oversees maintenance of more than 12,000 pieces of equipment, personnel and staffing requirements for 22 maintenance facilities, analysis of equipment disposition, serving his internal customers and oversight of outside vendor repairs in 55 nonshop locations.
Others serving as TMC officers for 2012-2013 include: Kirk Altrichter, Gordon Trucking, vice chairman and chairman of meetings; Dan Umphress, Fleet Advantage, chairman of Study Groups; Peggy Fisher, TireStamp Inc., membership and publicity chairman; Al Anderson, Bose Corp., chairman of associates; Roy Gambrell, Truck It, immediate past chairman; and Carl Kirk, TMC executive director.
Directors include Brent Hilton, Maverick Transportation; Glen McDonald, Ozark Motor Lines; Kevin Otto, Cummins; John Sullivan, Reliable Carriers; Ron Szapacs, Air Products & Chemicals; Kevin Tomlinson, South Shore Transportation; and Dave Williams, Verizon Fleet Operations.
TMC’s 2012 Transportation Technology Exhibition, held in conjunction with the meeting, featured 326 exhibitors in Tampa Convention Center’s 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The show included a broad assortment of the latest technology in commercial vehicles and components. Nick Thompson, regional maintenance manager for Old Dominion Freight Line, was the winner of the grand prize drawing for an expense-paid trip for two to the 2013 Daytona 500.
Members participated in 100 TMC task forces meetings early in the week to work on industry recommended practices for equipment maintenance and engineering. TMC recommended practices have been adopted as voluntary industry standards by commercial vehicle makers, component manufacturers, aftermarket parts and diagnostic equipment providers, and end users.
TMC will hold its 2012 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competition Sept. 10-13 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. TMCSuperTech2012 will be the eighth national competition and includes finalists of state and corporate technician competitions. TMC’s PTDC organizes the competition. Information on PTDC, the technician skills competition or opportunities for corporate sponsorship, is available by contacting Joe Hite at 703-838-1927 or going to http://tmc.truckline.com.
