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FleetMaintenance_July_2016

| Cover Story ASE (www.ASE.com) is an independent nonprofi t organization that has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. “For the technician, ASE certifi cations start as a way to diff erentiate themselves when the technician is new to the industry,” says George Arrants, program director, network training and recruitment, at WheelTime and WheelTime University. “Th en, as they gain more experience, certifi cations can be used as a gauge to measure if they are staying up with technology and all of the changes associated with it.” WheelTime (www.WheelTime.com) is an independent truck repair network that promotes objective quality measures. Noting that ASE certifi cations may indicate a technician’s level of professionalism, Arrants says fl eets can look at a technician’s certifi cations and make sure they assign the right person for the job. For example, if a technician is certifi ed in truck electrical repairs, that person can be assigned to an electrical complaint like slow cranking or an intermittent lights issue. “Th is, in turn, will save time with the diagnosis/ repair process, saving the fl eet time and money,” Arrants explains. He adds that having the right person for the job provides the customer with a more effi cient technician, saving time and money and giving them confi dence the repair will be made correctly. PEAK PRODUCTIVITY Fleets that perform their own repairs should use certifi ed technicians to help ensure peak productivity, says Duane Tegels, diesel coordinator at WyoTech. “A fl eet’s job is to ultimately haul freight at the lowest possible cost. By running an effi cient and proactive maintenance program, common repairs and vehicle downtime can be greatly reduced,” he states. “Th is starts with an educated repair team, which can be measured by the team’s certifi cations.” WyoTech (www.WyoTech.edu) – formerly known as Wyoming Technology Institute – off ers college-level, career-oriented education in the automotive, diesel, motorcycle, watercraft and collision/refi nishing industries. Neglecting certifi cations limits a technician’s possible career advancements and lowers customer confi dence and loyalty. Th at, says Tegels, ultimately impacts an organization’s bottom line. “Training and holding an organization’s technicians accountable for knowing the changes in today’s technologies is vital to a good preventive maintenance plan,” he says. Frank Conte, an education supervisor at Universal Technical Institute (UTI), believes technicians should be required to meet minimal training standards. “We have a CDL program to make sure that commercial vehicle drivers meet minimum standards, so why are the technicians that attempt repairs on those vehicles not required to meet some minimum standard of competence?” asks Conte. “When you call a plumber or electrician, in most states, they have to be licensed to make repairs to your home. Why is the technician TA leverages the training and certifi cation of its technicians by qualifying 12 of them each year to compete at the annual TMCSuperTech, an event that honors commercial vehicle technician professionalism and acknowledges the best of the best. Photo courtesy of TA One organization’s approach to technician training and certifi cation replacing the brakes on an 80,000-lb truck not held to the same standards?” UTI (www.UTI.edu) is a provider of postsecondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. ASE is the only certifying body that is recognized across the entire industry, explains Conte. However, there are additional certifi cations available through manufacturers and OEMs. ASE CERTIFICATIONS Currently, there are 49 ASE certifi cation tests, spanning many areas of vehicle repair. “Th ere are a series of tests for medium/heavy truck, automobile, collision repair and refi nishing, transit bus, school bus, truck equipment and parts specialists,” explains WheelTime’s Arrants, noting information about all tests is accessable through ASE’s website. “Th ey also off er Advanced-Level tests L1 By David A. Kolman, Editor Modern trucks have evolved to a level of technical complexity that forces truck service facilities to advance their approach to diagnostic, maintenance and service routines. This ever-evolving repair platform must include a more methodical and mechanically astute technician. Engine, truck and component manufacturers have added incentives to the mix by requiring technicians to obtain certifi cations for performing warranty work. TA Truck Service works diligently to keep pace by adopting OE-level certifi cation programs. It deploys a fi ve-phased approach to help its technicians keep their skill and knowledge up-to-speed: • Mentor Technician Program. • Web-based and DVD training. • Three U.S. training centers that deliver advanced instructor led training. • Vendor/supplier training delivered at its truck service facilities. • Laser-like focus on getting technicians ASE certifi ed. The leadership at TA Truck Service believes that having certifi ed technicians sets its service offerings apart from their competition. One of their major pillars is “Fix It Right” and they train entry-level to master-level technicians relentlessly towards that goal. NATIONAL COMPETITION TA leverages the training and certifi cation of its technicians by qualifying 12 technicians per year to compete at the annual TMCSuperTech. An elite competition, it brings together the best truck service and repair technicians from U.S. OEMs, trucking companies and repair facilities to compete nationally. TA Truck Service conducts its own internal multilayered competition in order to select the best of the best. These very accomplished technicians arrive at the TMCSuperTech event ready to compete. TA produces a world-class video that documents the dedication of the technician to achieve the certifi cations and qualifi cations necessary to prepare for the TMCSuper- Tech. The video is passed along to tech schools and recruiting events to promote the professionalism and quality of its technicians, and that helps in recruiting top technical talent in the industry. The TA Truck Service (www. ta-petro.com/amenities/truckrepair maintenance) network includes 242 truck service facilities, more than 1,000 repair bays and more than 3,000 technicians with ASE and TIA (Tire Industry Association) certifi cations. anced-L1 Continued page 12 10 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ JULY 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com


FleetMaintenance_July_2016
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