TIA to provide additional training for various tire service segments

Following its annual board meeting held in conjunction with the Global Tire Expo, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) has unveiled several training initiatives that are planned for 2012.

In the first quarter of next year, TIA will release the Spanish version of the Commercial Tire Service (CTS) program for both Basic and Certified levels. The association also expects to produce the Spanish translation of the Basic Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) program in the first quarter.

“Spanish is the primary language spoken at home for more than 35 million people in the United States, and many of them work in the commercial and earthmover tire service industries,” says TIA President Larry Brandt.

“Our members came to us with the need for a Spanish version of the CTS program,” he reports.

“While it was not budgeted this year, our dealers and manufacturers stepped up with contributions to make it happen,” Brandt continues.

“Likewise, the need for Spanish training materials in the earthmover tire industry prompted Michelin North America to translate and produce the ETS Program at no cost to the association,” he says. “Both translations are prime examples of TIA working with the industry to meet the training needs of technicians in the field.”

TIA will also release the On-Line University for all six Basic Level Training Programs: Automotive, Basic TPMS, Advanced TPMS, Commercial, Fleet and Earthmover. “This will allow companies of any size to train new hires on the first day and automatically track their progress through reporting mechanisms that can be linked to internal human resources software,” according to Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training.

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“In the past, the traditional video, workbook and paper test format has worked well for the Basic Level Programs, but our members are becoming more sophisticated so they are becoming more reliant on electronic recordkeeping,” he says.

“By developing an On-Line University, large companies can control costs with annual subscriptions while smaller companies can utilize the pay-per-view approach and purchase the training for individuals as they need it,” Rohlwing points out. “The bonus is that all of our members can take advantage of the electronic reporting functions and the liability protection that it provides.”

TIA will also begin production on a new Farm Tire Service (FTS) program, which is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2013. This will address the proper procedures for servicing agricultural, construction and skid steer tire and wheel assemblies, in addition to the safety guidelines for operating articulating boom trucks and liquid ballast pumps.

“The farm and agricultural tire industries have continued to grow throughout North America, so the demand for technician training has increased in recent years,” Rohlwing says.

“Most of our commercial members have made a commitment to provide all of their employees with the best available training, so they turned to us for help,” he notes. “As the leader in technician education, TIA recognized the need for a comprehensive FTS program so the foundation allocated the funds to begin production next year.”

For more information, visit www,tireindustry.org.