July 2018 | VehicleServicePros.com 51
In the last decade, repairing heavy duty equipment
has become an increasingly complex process,
with intricate technologies becoming ingrained
in every vehicle system. To stay on top of today’s
equipment maintenance – and to prepare for
future technology – fl eets need to take every
opportunity to train, read manuals and network
with their peers.
One eff ective way to tame the demanding
maintenance beast while keeping an eye
on the future is to become a member of ATA’s
Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC). TMC’s
2,500-plus members include technicians, educators,
suppliers, OEMs and fl eet maintenance
professionals. TMC members are responsible for
the maintenance of more than 1.5 million pieces
of equipment across North America, and they
have relied on the council for over six decades to
keep their trucks in top working order and their
operations on budget.
Creating resources
Council members participate in 15 diverse
Study Groups that cover maintenance and engineering
issues in all the systems of heavy duty
vehicles. TMC’s Study Groups encompass more
than 100 Task Forces, with volunteer members
identifying and recommending real-world industry
standards. Th e result of the council’s Study
Group and Task Force work is an endless source
of information about truck equipment maintenance,
shop management and spec’ing, titled
“TMC’s Recommended Practices Manual” (also
known as the RPs).
“Several of TMC’s most recent RPs provide
important resources for service provider shops
that prove quite valuable in a fl eet setting as well,”
says Jack Legler, TMC’s technical director.
Legler refers to RP 1613, Shop Workload &
Prioritization, which lays out a logical, systematic
approach to scheduling shop workloads,
taking into account available labor, skill levels,
work complexity and customer urgency. Another
new RP addresses technician training: RP 1614,
Technician Mentor Program Guidelines, which
provides a roadmap for establishing a shop
program to increase technicians’ profi ciency with
on-the-job training, control planning, return on
investment metrics, compensation, roles and
responsibilities.
TMC’s RPs are available online to members and
on a searchable compact disc – a handy feature
since there are more than 500 individual RPs,
many with diagrams and illustrations. While
much of the RP development process is accomplished
during TMC meetings held twice a year,
members also have 24/7 access to TMC Connect
(TMCConnect.trucking.org), an online collaborative
platform which includes a searchable RP
Library.
Other TMC RPs break down diffi cult repairs
– such as the heavy duty exhaust or aft ertreatment
system, lighting systems and onboard
vehicle electronics – into digestible portions. For
example, individual RPs under TMC’s S.3 Engine
Study Group provide a roadmap of preventive
maintenance procedures for diesel particulate
fi lters (DPFs) (see RP 355A) as well as guidelines
for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology
and its use of diesel exhaust fl uid (DEF) (see RP
360).
TMC’s RPs also simplify a maze of terms and
dashboard codes for its user network. Today’s
heavy duty equipment includes multiple computer
components. Th e RPs address the most complicated
systems while providing insights on future
technologies and advancements. Also, TMC’s staff
is always available to address member inquiries
and help them fi nd real-time answers.
Establishing standards
Another useful tool for shop managers is TMC’s
Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards
(VMRS). “VMRS creates a single, concise method
to manage fl eet assets and analyze maintenance
operations and costs,” said Jack Poster, TMC’s
VMRS manager who is also known as the staff ’s
“Code Guru.”
As the industry’s trailblazers in “thought leadership,”
TMC continues to work with OEMs to create
standards that ensure the truck of the future is the
most effi cient to operate and maintain.
While TMC’s work to develop best equipment
maintenance practices is a major focus, there are
many other benefi ts of being a Council member.
For example, TMC’s technical staff produce numerous
publications and periodicals to keep members
up-to-date on trucking industry regulations, maintenance
parts recalls and other breaking news.
Th e primary focus of TMC’s staff and working
members is to increase effi ciencies in the upkeep
of trucking equipment, and that goal is accomplished
every day with better training, clearly
written manuals and network opportunities.
Participate in trucking’s
present and future
Becoming a member of TMC can
provide opportunities to train, educate
and network with peers.
By Janet Howells-Tierney, TMC’s Director of Council Development
JANET HOWELLS-TIERNEY serves as
the director of council development for
TMC the only industry association that
is focused solely on truck technology
and maintenance. She is responsible
for the recruiting and building of TMC’s
membership, and also functions as the
primary member services link for TMC’s
membership of more than 2,400 industry
practitioners.
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP
To join TMC, visit: jointmc.trucking.
org or email: tmc.trucking.org
» TMC’s Recommended Practices address complicated vehicle systems while
providing insights on future technologies and advancements.
Photo courtesy of TMC
/VehicleServicePros.com
/TMCConnect.trucking.org
link
/jointmc.trucking.org
/jointmc.trucking.org