Cybersecurity Performs Main Position in First Day of TMCSuperTech

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CLEVELAND — After his first day of written exams on the 2023 Nationwide Technician Expertise Competitors on Sept. 17, Bobby Key, a store lead technician with Shamrock Environmental based mostly in Browns Summit, N.C., summarized what he considered his efficiency with only one phrase.

“Ehh,” he quipped after his lengthy day of testing on the annual occasion, often known as TMCSuperTech. The 2-day competitors is a part of the 2023 Fall Assembly of the Know-how & Upkeep Council of American Trucking Associations, scheduled for Sept. 17-21 on the Huntington Conference Middle.

Key was already set to advance to the second day of the competitors, as he was among the many 78 finalists within the Heavy-Responsibility observe of the hands-on tech abilities competitors. And that in all probability labored in his favor, since Key gave himself solely a 50-50 probability of qualifying to advance if he had to take action solely on his scores from the 13 written examination stations.

The primary-day qualifiers included 14 state champions in addition to 2019 Grand Champion Kelby Bentley from FedEx Freight. Bentley additionally grabbed the day-one high spot within the fasteners station. The service, whose mum or dad FedEx Corp. ranks No. 2 within the Transport Matters Prime 100 checklist of the most important for-hire carriers in North America, scored eight finalists together with Wesley Salley, who gained 4 stations on the primary day: ASE written check, RP guide, trailer lighting and hydraulics & drivebelts. UPS, ranked No. 1 within the TT 100, had 4 finalists together with state champions Jay Stahl from Ohio and Anthony Nunez from Arkansas. Nunez additionally grabbed high honors within the wiring diagrams and coolants and DEF stations.

Different first-day multistation winners embody Ian Matje from Iron Buffalo Holdings/Jeco in one of many newer classes, cybersecurity, together with a debut entry this 12 months, electrical car security.

Opponents put together for a day of competitors. (Blake Franko/American Trucking Associations)

These newer classes replicate the significance of holding the upkeep business forward of the curve as service wants evolve, mentioned TMCSuperTech Competitors Chairman Randy Patterson.

“The whole lot on the tractor-trailer these days has a controller. With that controller comes the electronics and [engine control modules] to function that controller,” he mentioned, pointing particularly to the significance of cybersecurity. “We have now to keep up good safe methods on the automobiles which are carrying the freight up and down the street.”

Patterson additionally famous that the EV security class is supposed to put a basis towards making ready upkeep retailers for electrification.

“Whereas there are some EVs on the market, many alternative EV are maintained by the producer. That doesn’t imply that can proceed ceaselessly,” he mentioned. “In our world of upkeep, in the future we’re going to have to keep up these EVs. So, it’s higher to begin now and be conversant in [the] data we’ve to deal with them, moderately than get blindsided down the street when we’ve a pile of them on the market and never having the ability to do it.”

Patterson described the method as a studying expertise for everybody concerned, and Key agreed.

“Final 12 months, cybersecurity kicked my butt,” he joked. Secret’s in his third 12 months at TMCSuperTech. He started competing in his dwelling state of North Carolina in 2015, and completed in second place the final two years. Though he has not but had a number of publicity to EV upkeep, Key appreciates that they’re poised to reshape the way forward for his occupation. And he mentioned competing at SuperTech offers him a leg up.

“The distinction within the state and nationwide degree is big,” he mentioned. “There are topics like cybersecurity and EVs to cope with. When you find out about them and know the way it works, it’s not as dangerous as you assume it’s going to be.”

Patterson mentioned he has seen TMCSuperTech contributors through the years acquire information about diversified service points, a proactive method that he believes will result in a greater future for everybody in truck upkeep.

“Because the chairman, I get to see this and I’m so proud to be a part of serving to the business enhance itself from the technician degree up,” he mentioned. “As a result of when you’ve gotten technicians which are higher, you’ve gotten ground leaders which are higher within the dealerships, after which you must have higher managers.”

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