TMC SuperTech2011
One of the hallmarks of the best maintenance operations is management that understands the value of industry resources. And one of the best resources in the heavy-duty industry is the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations. TMC exists to improve transport equipment, its maintenance and maintenance management. Some of TMC’s most important
Skills for America offers school-to-work program
Recently, President Obama delivered a speech at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) outlining his Skills for America initiative. It’s a plan to develop more formal relationships between educational institutions and industry to help establish a school-to-work program to provide jobs for trained individuals in the manufacturing and technical industries, such as the vehicle service industry.
Computer-based ASE tests begin in July
Since last September, ASE has been talking about the move away from written testing to an improved computer-based testing (CBT) system. The first of these next-generation ASE certification tests will be available in July, with registration starting on July 11. The new system offers several improvements for both technicians and employers, not the least of
A technician ‘talent crunch’ in the truck market
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I continue to noticing a growing problem within the medium- and heavy-duty market and it’s troubling, to say the least. If the phone calls I’ve been receiving lately are any indication, this problem is getting worse and its scope is widening. I’m talking about a talent crunch when
Reduce costs with ‘green’ training
I just spent four days in Indianapolis at the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show. I am amazed by the sheer number of exhibitions that occur every year covering every conceivable industry, technology, hobby, fetish, sport and interest. What each has in common is that they provide attendees with an opportunity not only
Attracting the next generation on technicians
Recently, two important things happened that will have a direct bearing on training the technicians of tomorrow. The first was a significant donation of digital multimeters from Amprobe in Everett, Wash., to the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). In fact, this corporate donation of electrical testing equipment, with a retail value in excess of
ASE certification moves to online testing
Last October, I talked about the changes coming to the ASE Certification testing program. The biggest of these changes is the move away from traditional written testing to an all-computer-based test delivery starting in July 2011. That process has begun and this year will mark the last time anyone will need a No. 2 lead
New year, new resolutions
One of the great traditions of the New Year is the making of resolutions. These generally take the form of promises to do better, be it an improvement in our outlook, output, appearance or lifestyle. They all have one universal truth in common – we rarely see them through. The reasons we fail to keep
The ASE awards honors ‘best of the best’ techs
For more than 30 years, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has an annual meeting which includes a technician awards banquet. These awards span auto, truck, collision, parts and educational segments of the industry. Some of the most well-known names in the medium/heavy truck market team up with ASE to sponsor the best
Tomorrow’s technical training
One of the biggest values in attending industry trade shows is found in the face-to-face conversations that happen both on and off the show floor. We call it networking these days, but it’s a time-honored tradition wherein one finds many pearls of wisdom. For me, the latest of these conversations happened in Las Vegas and
ASE shifts to computer-based testing
Those of us who have taken an ASE Certification Test in the past probably did so using a No. 2 pencil and bubble sheet to answer the questions. Since ASE’s founding in 1972, paper-and-pencil has been the most common form of testing. Soon, that will no longer be the case. ASE has begun the process
Hino’s Heroes
I bumped into Ken Melancon at a trade show a while back. He’s an instructor at the Hino training center in Ontario, Calif. While we were talking about the role ASE certification plays in the Hino technician development program, he mentioned their technician competition and asked if I’d like to attend one to see how