The Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations will hold its 2013 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competition, TMCSuperTech 2013, on Sept. 9-12 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Penn.

The meeting theme, “Precision Maintenance,” will be carried out through technical sessions covering management, training, equipment selection, regulations and sustainability.

Technical Sessions

Full technical sessions are to include: “CSA and Its Impact on Maintenance;” “How to Conduct a Pilot Review;” and “Secrets of Hiring and Retaining Top Talent.”

Mini-technical sessions include:
• “Strategies for Managing Driver Electrical Needs;”
• “Shop Talk for Tires & Wheels;”
• “Best Practices for Using/Managing Software Tools;”
• “How to Address Distracted Driving;”
• “CVSA Out-of-Service Suspension Inspection Criteria;”
• “Trailer Stability Control: Minimize the Rock N’ Roll;”
• “My Fleet Average MPG: Where Does It Come From?;”
• “General Guidelines for Security Risk Analysis of Electronic Driver Log Systems;”
• “Should You be Spec’ing Gas or Diesel for Your Light and Medium Truck Fleet?;”
• “Emissions Tampering: What Your Fleet Needs to Know;” and
• “Interior Cab Corrosion: Where Did My Floorboards Go?”

More than 100 Task Forces will meet on the opening day to continue work on recommended practices, information reports and position papers. Monday’s Fleet Talk will provide the opportunity for maintenance and equipment professionals to exchange information related to equipment problems. Later on Monday, during the Town Meeting, TMC’s Fleet Operator’s Forum will provide the opportunity for maintenance and equipment professionals to seek redress for unresolved equipment issues they have with manufacturers.

Tuesday’s Industry Luncheon speaker will be Nicholas T. Pinchuk, chairman and CEO of Snap-on Inc. Before joining Snap-on, Pinchuk was president of global refrigeration operations for Carrier Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies. Previously, he served in executive, operational, planning and financial capacities within Carrier and United Technologies, including president of Asia-Pacific air conditioning operations, global vice president of strategic planning, and chief financial officer for Carrier International Corp.

Top technicians from across the country will compete in the National Technician Skills Competition — TMCSuperTech 2013 — held in conjunction with TMC’s Fall Meeting. 

A qualifying round of exams will be held on Monday with a reception and announcement of qualifying competitors for Tuesday’s hands-on skills challenge. Winners will be announced at Wednesday’s TMCSuperTech 2013 Awards Luncheon — open to both contestants and meeting attendees.

Additional educational opportunities for meeting attendees will be available at the Professional Technician Development Committee’s Technician Training Fair. Sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday and will include: “Fastener Training 101;” “Compressed Natural Gas Engines — Spark Ignition Components;” “Compressed and Liquid Natural Gas Technology and Safety;” “Fifth Wheel Upper Coupler Technology and Inspection;” and “Computer-Based Total Vehicle Diagnostic Routines.” Training qualifies for National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation continuing education credits.

Information and registration for TMC’s 2013 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competition is available online at http://tmc.trucking.org.