TMCSuperTech2017 S P E C I A L R E P O R T
Trailer Technician Track Now In Its Second Year
TMCFutureTech2017
By David A.
Kolman, Editor
For 2017, the Technology
& Maintenance Council
(TMC) is hosting the
fourth annual National
Student Technician
Competition –
TMCFutureTech – during
its annual TMCSuperTech
and fall meeting.
TMCFutureTech2017
consists of a set of skill
stations for technician
students, It is being
be held on Monday,
Sept.18. Winners will
54 Fleet Maintenance | JULY 2017
be announced during
the following day’s
TMCSuperTech 2017
Awards Banquet, which is
open to both contestants
and meeting attendees.
Student registration for
this year’s TMCFutureTech
is limited to 80 individuals.
The student competition
registration fee is $200.
Registration cutoff is
August 14.
CAREER
DEVELOPMENT
TMC’s Professional
Technician Development
Committee organizes
skills competitions to
further our efforts to
promote careers for
professional commercial
vehicle technicians in
all segments of the
trucking industry,” says
Robert Braswell, TMC
executive director.
“For 2017, TMC is able
to continue the National
Student Technician
Competition thanks
to our official sponsors
of this valuable
industry service.”
TMC began its FutureTech
event in 2014. Velociti
sponsored both the 2015
and 2016 TMCFutureTech
competitions. This year’s
event is sponsored by
Tech Force Foundation
and Base Air Suspension.
WINNERS
The winners of last year’s
TMCFutureTech were:
• First place: Matthew
Adams, Francis Tuttle
Technology Center.
• Second place: Daniel
Hanna, Forsyth
Technical Community
College.
• Third
place:
Clancy
Johnson,
Utah Valley
University.
Winners of the inaugural
TMCFutureTech,
held in 2015, were:
• First place: Daniel
Hanna, Forsyth
Technical Community
College.
• Second place: Jonathan
Kelly, Southside Virginia
Community College.
• Third place: Karl Kerutis,
WyoTech Blairsville.
By David A. Kolman, Editor
TMCSuperTech2017 will once
again feature a separate
track for trailer technicians.
The Trailer Technician Track
recognizes the special challenges
trailer technicians face
in fleet and service provider
operations. This year’s Trailer
Technician Track will consist
of multiple skill areas.
Testing begins on Saturday,
Sept. 16, with orientation
and an ASE-administered
written test that takes about
90 minutes to complete.
Sunday, Sept. 17, is the
Qualifying Rounds which
involves 17 skill stations. Each
station, featuring table-top
equipment mock-ups, will
be divided into 10 substations.
Each station rotation
will last 25 minutes.
Trailer technicians will
compete in all 17 stations.
However, only scores from
selected stations will count
toward their final score.
THE STATIONS
The 17 skills stations are:
1. Lighting.
2. Fasteners.
3. RP (Recommended
Practice) Manual.
4. Electrical Diagrams.
5. CSA (Compliance, Safety,
Accountability) Compliance.
6. Electrical No. 1.
7. Safety & Environmental.
8. Wheelend No. 1.
9. Torque.
10. Precision Measuring.
11. Coolants/DEF (diesel
exhaust fluid).
12. CNG Safety.
13. Hydraulics.
14. Trailer Lighting.
15. Drive Belts.
16. Aftertreatment.
17. Cybersecurity.
THE FINALS
Those trailer technicians
who qualify move on to the
Hands-On Skill Challenge (the
finals), which takes place on
Monday, Sept. 18. They will
compete in 15 skill stations.
Each station will be divided
into 7 substations. Each
station lasts 23 minutes.
Skills stations 1 to 6 share
space with the traditional
TMCSuperTech track stations.
Stations 7 to 15 are
unique to the Trailer Track.
These 15 stations are:
T1. Brakes.
T2. Wheelend No. 2.
T3. Trailer Coupler.
T4. Electrical No. 2.
T5. Tire & Wheel.
T6. Liftgates.
T7. Trailer Alignment.
T8. Roll-Up Doors.
T9. Trailer Antilock
Braking Systems.
T10. Trailer Electrical
System Corrosion.
T11. 7-Pin Receptacle
& Plug Repair.
T12. Trailer Fasteners.
T13. Trailer Wire Repair.
T14. Trailer PMI (preventive
maintenance inspection).
T15. Trailer Wiring Schematics.
Twenty-three minutes will be
allotted to each cycle, which
includes orientation, instructions
and task completion.
2016 WINNERS
Last year’s first-ever
TMCSuperTech Trailer
Champion was Scott Davidson
with TravelCenters of America.
Two of his colleagues from
TravelCenters of America
took second and third place
respectively: Robert Anderson
and Michael Kerfoot.
SPONSORS
This year, the TMCSuperTech
Trailer Technician Track is sponsored
by Tech Force Foundation
and Base Air Management.
Additional new sponsors
since last year include:
• Aperia Technologies.
• JOST International.
• U.S. Xpress.
The inaugural TMCSuperTech
Trailer Track sponsors, which
continued their support for
this year’s competition, are:
• Aurora Parts and Accessories.
• Great Dane Trailers.
• Hutchens Industries.
• Hyundai Translead.
• Lite-Check.
• Mckinney Trailer Rentals.
• Peterson/Maxi-Seal.
Step 4 - Attend the
TMCSuperTech2017 Reception
After the qualifying rounds it’s off to the
TMCSuperTech2017 Welcome Reception at 6:45
p.m., at which time the names of the contestants
who will compete in the fi nals on Monday, Sept. 18
will be announced. Th ey will advance to compete
in Monday’s Hands-On Skills Challenge.
Certifi ed grand champions from state trucking
association contests will be included in the Hands-
On Skills Challenge automatically.
Step 5 - Compete in the finals
On Monday, Sept. 18 at 8 a.m., qualifying
contestants will compete in the Hands-On Skill
Challenge – a series of 15 stations divided into
seven substations. At each station, 23 minutes is
allotted. Th e 15 stations will be:
1. Brakes.
2. Wheelend No. 2.
3. Fift h Wheel.
4. Electrical No. 2.
5. Tire & Wheel.
6. Lift gates.
7. Preventive Maintenance Inspection (PMI).
8. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC).
9. Drivetrain.
10. Starting & Charging.
11. Service Information.
12. Vehicle Control Systems.
13. Steering & Suspension.
14. Engine (Electronics).
15. Engine (Hardware).
Step 6 - Attend the Awards Banquet
The winners of the TMCFutureTech and
TMCSuperTech will be announced at the 2017
Awards Banquet at 7:30 p.m. Th e TMCSuperTech
Grand Champion will be presented with a special
trophy and his or her name will appear on the
TMCSuperTech Grand Champion Banner that is
displayed at every TMC meeting.
Second and third place TMCSuperTech winners
also will receive trophies and prizes. Individuals
who place in the Best in Skills Category will
receive a special prize as well.