Senior Reporter
Task Force Stresses Skills Needed by Entry-Level Techs
But those TMC members attending the Feb. 16 session were unanimous in the notion that there’s a disconnect between tech trade school training and real-world fleet maintenance — not to mention a failure by some high schools to teach students to become proficient in reading, writing and math.
One of the primary aims of the task force is to give the technical schools — and even high schools — guidance on what skills the trucking industry needs techs to have when they first walk in the shop, said committee Chairman Michael Meredith, a FedEx Freight people development specialist.
For starters, many of those participating in the discussion said the needs are basic.
After all, how can a tech who has trouble with reading understand a 400-page technical document, one tech asked.
“There’s a lack of basic math skills,” said another. “It’s important. We have regulations that call for a quarter-inch, so they have to know what a quarter-inch is.”
Several members said that many young entry-level techs often know computers inside-out, but some older techs are lacking even basic computer skills.
That’s a liability for the modern technician, who is likely to spend more time on a computer than turning a wrench.
“To me, it’s astounding that we would have any large number of techs coming in without those basic computer skills,” said Homer Hogg, technical training manager for TravelCenters of America and one of the session’s discussion leaders.
Meredith said a complicating factor in finding capable techs is a symptom of the tech shortage — that is, the image of a diesel mechanic.
“We’ve got this big gap in the blue-collar industry because we’ve got jobs available,” Meredith said. “The perception is oily, dark and dirty on a tractor. It’s not that way anymore.”
He added, “We are in the same situation right now as the truck driver shortage. It’s projected that over the next 10 years we’re in big, big trouble if we don’t do something today.”
Bryan Lewis, a Wal-mart Transportation master fleet technician and discussion leader, said many tech schools are suffering budget cuts, forcing them to teach with 1980s components.
“I guess my challenge to the industry is, are we willing to help support these schools to get a return on investment on the back side?” Lewis asked.
But Hogg called the image problem a “tough nut to crack.”
“It’s huge,” Hogg said. “Just go down the street you live and knock on the door of your neighbor, and ask him to describe a diesel technician, and be ready to be appalled.”
