The Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the America Trucking Associations has released third-quarter updates to its Vehicle Maintenance Reporting System (VMRS).

Changes include eight updates to Code Key 15, Work Accomplished Code; seven updates to Code Key 18, Technician Failure Code; five updates to Code Key 34, Manufacturer/Brand Code; and 978 updates to Code Key 33, Component Code.
Enterprise and Developer License holders automatically received their updates on Monday Oct. 10. Single Site License holders can obtain the updates online at http://tmc.truckline.com. These files will be available during the remainder of the third quarter.
The Technology and Maintenance Council released its latest VMRS version, VMRS 2000 1.04, in June. It contains more that 1,000 new or enhanced codes that were not part of release 1.03. Many of these new codes are aimed at the "off-highway" segment of the "equipment" industry.
TMC offers three levels of VMRS 2000 1.04 licensing. The "single site" license allows the user to install VMRS 2000 1.04 on a single computer. For companies who have a diverse arrangement of computers and repair sites the "Enterprise" license version is available.
Third-party software development companies use the "Developer" version. These companies may wish to integrate the VMRS 2000 1.04 codes into their product in order to enhance its value to the equipment community. Users of either the Enterprise or Developer version are eligible for free quarterly updates of VMRS-related products.
VMRS can be used as a way to standardize reports that transportation fleets use to analyze the reliability of a host of products and components. It quickly evolved into a "universal" language that equipment owners and operators could use to enhance their ability to monitor/track equipment expense.
With the ability to more effectively and efficiently monitor equipment cost, VMRS quickly became the tool of choice for a great many fleets and equipment operators.
VMRS is a "living entity" in that the industry it serves is constantly growing and evolving. Because of this growth and evolution the ability to respond quickly to the ever-changing needs of the industry are paramount. TMC is the official standard-setting custodian of VMRS. TMC, through its licensing agreements, provides OEMs, manufacturers, part suppliers and other market providers access to VMRS as a means of supporting the transportation/equipment industry.
Many VMRS 2000 users realized that their ability to increase the value of their reporting could be enhanced if their parts inventory is matched to VMRS Code Key 33 values. Code Key 33 matching consists of pairing a Code Key 33 to a manufacturer's part number. Code Key 33 values are not "part numbers." A Code Key 33 value is used to "describe" a part.
The average fleet workshop has 5,000 to 7,500 part numbers in their inventory at any given time. TMC has established a service bureau to assist fleet/equipment users in having Code Key 33 values assigned. For a reasonable fee TMC will take the inventory list of parts contained in a user database and provide a return file of VMRS 2000 1.04 Code Key 33 values. The advantages to TMC parts matching services include industry-leading accuracy, timeliness and reliability.
For more information about VMRS 2000 1.04 or VMRS quarterly updates, contact Mark Williams, TMC's VMRS Services Manager, at mwilliams@truck-ing.org or (336) 644-8797.