American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council has added a new competition track for trailer technicians at its TMCSuperTech 2016 National Technician Skills Competition.

The new track will showcase the specialized skill set of trailer technicians at this year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 18-21 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The trailer technician competition track will run alongside the traditional commercial vehicle technician track but will feature specialized stations just for trailer technicians. They also will compete in a limited number of stations common to all professional technicians at the event. Registration will open on Aug. 1.

“The purpose of the new trailer technician track is to showcase the specialized set of skills these professionals use every day to keep North America’s freight rolling and recognize a group of technicians who otherwise may not have a chance to compete at a national level in a technician competition,” said Carl Kirk, ATA vice president of maintenance, information technology and logistics. “The technology finding its way on today’s trailers is every bit as complex as what’s found on tractors and straight trucks.”

The trailer technician track will feature 21 stations with a written test and skill-specific stations. These skill-specific stations include: Safety/Environmental, RP Manual, Trailer Lighting, Torque, Electrical/Electronics, Wheel End, Fasteners, Precision Measuring and Lighting Systems. There will be six stations aimed only at trailer technicians that include: Trailer Alignment, Roll-Up Doors, Trailer Antilock Braking System, Trailer Electrical System Corrosion, 7-Pin Connector Repair and Trailer Fasteners.

Technicians will not be able to compete in both the all-encompassing track and the specialized trailer track. For 2016, the trailer track will be limited to no more than 42 technicians.

For more information on TMC’s Fall Meeting, National Technician Skills Competition and National Student Technician Competition, click here.