Eaton Roadranger, Davco Technology, Fontaine International and the U.S. Postal Service have joined the Technology & Maintenance Council's new Friends of the Technician program.

According to a TMC press release, manufacturers, suppliers and industry service providers are joining an effort to increase awareness and appreciation for commercial vehicle technicians. Friends of the Technician helps fund efforts to improve the image of truck technicians and attract new technicians.
TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee does this by sponsoring scholarships, advertising campaigns aimed at students and guidance counselors, outreach efforts and other high-visibility efforts. The PTDC is organizing TMCSuperTech2005, TMC's inaugural National Technical Skills Competition, to be held Sept. 18-20 in conjunction with TMC's 2005 Fall Meeting, Sept. 19-22, at the Valley Forge Convention Plaza in Valley Forge, Pa.
Friends of the Technician sponsorships include four levels - Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze - that reflect annual sponsorship levels by companies, organizations or individuals at the $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 and $2,000 level.
As of July 6, Platinum level sponsors include Fleet Maintenance Magazine/Cygnus Business Media, Wheeltime Network and WyoTech technical college. Gold level sponsors include ArvinMeritor, Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems and Eaton Roadranger. Bronze level sponsors include Davco Technology, Fontaine International, United States Postal Service and Universal Technical Institute.
For information on Friend of the Technician sponsorship, go to www.truckline.com/aboutta/councils/tmc/ptdcsponsorship or contacting David Miller, TMC exhibit services manager, at 703-838-1927.