The Tire Industry Assn. (TIA) has announced the schedule for the upcoming fall 2003 "Truck Tire Training Tour."

Beginning in Providence, Md., on Sept. 30, the tour will cover a total of 10 cities, ending up in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 31 -- a week before the International Tire Expo/SEMA.
Once again, the tour will feature one-day classroom-only seminars held back-to-back in each city so companies can split their workforce and provide training for all of their employees. Students also have the option of taking the TIA Commercial Tire Service (CTS) certification exam to become TIA-certified CTS technicians. Regardless of the outcome of the exam, all students receive documentation of participation in the training program to satisfy federal training requirements for employees that handle inflated truck tire and wheel assemblies.
The Training Tour registration fees will remain the same as established for the winter tour earlier this year -- $250 for each student who needs a TIA CTS Manual and $175 for each student who already has a manual. Both prices include lunch. Every student must have his or her own TIA CTS manual in order to take the certification exam. As with previous tours, there is only one price for TIA members and non-members.
"We're excited about the opportunity to continue bringing the CTS Program to different areas of the country," says Tom Raben, TIA president and president of Raben Tire Co. in Evansville, Ind. "Our goal is to make sure that TIA CTS training and certification is available to everyone that handles truck tires and wheels. We hope to schedule annual fall and winter tours as an important service to the tire and transportation industries for years to come."
Jeff Faubion, president of Tire Training Services Inc. in Lakewood, Colo., will once again provide the instruction for the Tour. He has 20 years of experience as a truck tire and off-the-road tire technician and six years as a TIA Certified CTS Instructor. "I'm pleased that TIA has selected me to teach the fall tour," says Faubion. "I always enjoy the camaraderie among tire technicians and look forward to visiting different cities with the CTS program." Jeff has trained and certified more than 500 technicians and continues to have one of the highest passing rates among all of the TIA Certified Instructors.
A complete list of tour dates and locations is available on TIA's web site, www.tireindustry.org, along with a registration form.
Questions about the program can be directed to Christine Marnett at (800) 426-8835 or (502) 968-8900, or email cmarnett@tireindustry.org.