The Tire Industry Assn. (TIA) has announced the introduction of a specialized series of programs designed to provide truck tire and wheel safety training for fleets.

There are three facets to the series, each offering maintenance personnel different opportunities to learn about federal regulations, industry standards and manufacturer guidelines for servicing tire and wheel assemblies. The primary objectives are to improve mileage and performance, while developing the ability to recognize potential hazards before an accident occurs, by making safety the top priority.
TIA’s new "Fleet Truck Tire Training Guide" outlines the content and structure of each program, including:
-- Fleet Tire Service OSHA Compliance Training that meets the minimum OSHA training requirements for any employee who handles inflated assemblies. The training can be conducted in any facility.
-- Custom Fleet Tire Training that allows the fleet to combine classroom instruction and hands-on training in the maintenance facility for commercial and off-the-road tire service.
-- Truck Tire Training Tour that consists of one-day classroom seminars for experienced technicians conducted around the country, and includes TIA certification if the student successfully completes the TIA CTS certification exam.
Since 1997, TIA has offered educational programs to truck tire and wheel service technicians. With this new program from TIA, fleets can be even more confident that their tires and wheels are being serviced correctly and safely.
"Next to fuel, tires represent the highest operating expense for most fleets, and these new training programs will help them improve performance while reducing liability exposure through OSHA compliance," said Tom Raben, TIA president and president of Raben Tire Co. in Evansville, Ind.
"It also educates them on how tire dealers should service the tires and wheels on their vehicles outside the maintenance garage. With this knowledge in hand, more fleets will naturally start looking for TIA members that participate in our Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Training and Certification Program. Both programs are working together toward the goal of improving safety for truck tire and wheel service technicians on and off the highway."
To receive a copy of the Fleet Truck Tire Training Guide, contact TIA at (800) 426-8835 or (502) 968-8900, or e-mail info@tireindustry.org.