Announcements

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 14 — 7/29/2026

Apprenticeship Programs: Advantages & Opportunities

This is the 14th episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (July 29, 2026). During this episode, George Arrants & Robert Braswell discuss the importance apprenticeship and mentoring programs as well as an exciting new $25 million grant awarded to the ASE Education Foundation to encourage implementation of registered apprenticeship programs. George Arrants is vice president of the ASE Education Foundation.

For more on registered apprenticeship models, see TMC's Information Report at this link: 

https://tmc.trucking.org/blog/tmc-ir-2021-2-model-registered-apprenticeship-progam-commercial-vehicle-technicians

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 13 — 7/22/2026

Codes You Can't Live Without: Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS)

This is the 13th episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (July 22, 2026). During this episode, Jack Poster & Robert Braswell discuss the importance and proper application of the Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS) to fleet operations. Jack Poster is VMRS Services Manager for ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

 https://youtu.be/S5M-8xdc-4o

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 12 — 7/15/2026

Top Tips for Lighting System Maintenance, Repair & Specification

This is the 12th episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (July 15, 2026). During this episode, Al Anderson & Robert Braswell discuss recommended practices for lighting system maintenance, repair & specification for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, including what to do to minimize the effects of corrosion on same. Al Anderson is vice president of sales and marketing for Peterson Manufacturing Company. 

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

https://youtu.be/rbKsOi6d-Kc

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 11 — 7/8/2026

Engine Coolant Maintenance & The Summer Driving Season

This is the 11th episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (July 8, 2026). During this episode, Joe Long & Robert Braswell discuss the importance of having effective maintenance practices for engine coolant/antifreeze during the summer driving season. Joe Long is director, heavy duty business development, PEAK Commercial & Industrial.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

https://youtu.be/WxJ9WEyGpHc

No Podcast This Week... Ten Minutes With TMC returns July 8 with Joe Long as our guest discussing engine coolant maintenance. 

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 10 — 6/24/2026

Guidelines for Effective Lockout/Tagout Procedures

This is the 10th episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (June 24, 2026). During this episode, Jack Legler & Robert Braswell discuss the importance of having effective lockout/tagout procedures in commercial vehicle maintenance operations and what recommendations TMC has on the subject.  Jack Legler is TMC’s Technical Director. 

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 9 — 6/17/2026

What's Happening in Vehicle Maintenance: Who's Really Controlling Your Costs?

This is the ninth episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (June 17, 2026). During this episode, Darry Stuart & Robert Braswell discuss the changing nature of commercial vehicle maintenance in the second half of the 2020s, and the importance of knowing just who exactly is controlling your costs in your maintenance operation.  Darry Stuart is president and CEO of DWS Fleet Management.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 8 — 6/10/2026

Spec’ing the 20-Year Life Trailer & Its Impact on Wheel End Maintenance and Inspection

This is the eighth episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (June 10, 2026).

During this episode, Roger Maye & Robert Braswell discuss how recent interest in spec’ing trailers for a 20-year service life is impacting wheel end maintenance and inspection.  Roger Maye is Director of Technical Service for ConMet.

There has been increasing interest in getting longer service life from trailers from their first owners, who are spec’ing for as long as a 20-year service life. Today's available spec'ing options certainly make this possible — at a price — but it also has impacts on wheel end maintenance of which fleet managers should be aware.  During this edition, we explore what changes fleet managers may need to make on the maintenance front to achieve desired goals for extended service life.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

 https://youtu.be/kNRpQM-zP9w

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Policy Department is seeking input to help respond to U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule that would exempt road and intermodal trailer refrigeration units (TRUs) from the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) leak repair requirements established under the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) Rule.  A survey is linked here and below, and your responses will help us to provide technical details to EPA staff as they develop a regulatory impact analysis that justifies finalizing the rule.  Responses are requested by COB Monday, June 22nd .   

Please review and complete the survey or pass this note along to the appropriate person in you company and encourage them to participate.  ATA will review and aggregate the data and blind any company specific information before presenting it to EPA.  The survey asks for your company name so we can identify potential duplicates, and your company specific responses will only be seen by ATA staff. 

Here is the link to the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JDCSB9Q

And here are some other relevant links:

EPA’s Regulatory Actions for Managing HFCs webpage

Federal Register link to EPA’s Proposed Rule

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 7 — 6/3/2026

Wheel & Wheel Fastener Maintenance

This is the seventh episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (June 3, 2026). During this episode, Dave Walters & Robert Braswell discuss wheel and fastener maintenance, repair and specification. Dave Walters is manager, warranty & field service, for ALCOA Wheels.

Proper wheel torque maintenance is essential to prevent wheel separations and this segment covers what fleet managers and technicians need to know about proper wheel installation practices.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

 https://youtu.be/c948-aDRuEI

The things that keep fleet managers up at night shifted considerably through the end of May 2026 according to a spring survey conducted by ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) — at least when it comes to TMC fleet members’ top maintenance worries. 

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 4 — 5/13/2026

This is the fourth episode of Ten Minutes With TMC (May 13, 2026). During this episode, Pat Meisenholder & Robert Braswell offer Tire Tips for Summer Driving & Maximum Fuel Economy, which is particularly important as we head into the summer driving season facing not only rising temperatures but also rising fuel costs. This segment covers pre-trip inspections, proper inflation pressure and how to maintain it, as well as maintenance and repair tips and how all this together will help equipment users preserve and improve fuel economy.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

https://youtu.be/H8moZwWE1KE 

2026 National Technician Appreciation Week is Coming June 14-20. For details, visit https://ntaw.trucking.org.

Ten Minutes With TMC EPISODE 2 — 04/30/2026

This is the second episode of Ten Minutes With TMC.

During this episode, Kevin Otto & Robert Braswell examine the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Diesel Exhaust Fluid Sensor Delete: What Fleets Need to Know.

Ten Minutes With TMC is an audio podcast produced by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, hosted by TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. For more information, contact TMC at (703) 838-1763, email: tmc@trucking.org.

Updates to TMC's Industry Reference Guide and 70th Anniversary History Keepsake Now Posted on TMC Connect.  Go to PERIODICALS in the red bar at the top of the home page to download.

In case you missed it, here's a short recap video of TMC's 2026 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, at which we celebrated our 70th anniversary. 

TMC Fleet Members:
 

Here's Four Takeaways From Four Days at TMC's 2026 Annual Meeting...

Access to TMC RPs & Digitally Protected Products Will Be Down on Monday, March 30 due to maintenance. They will be back online Tuesday, March 31. 

With Dave Nemo's retirement on February 16, 2026; RadioNemo is ending live broadcast operations.

Therefore, Tech Talk With TMC will be in hiatus for the near future. However, stay tuned as the broadcast may be returning to the airwaves later in 2026. In the meanwhile, you can listen to past shows as indicated below, as the RadioNemo archives will remain available where ever you listen to your podcasts on social media platforms  including Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, & YouTube, as well as Audacy, iHeart radio and more. Visit https://www.radionemo.com. 

Aftertreatment Listed as Number One Top Five Concern, According to Latest Survey

The things that keep fleet managers up at night shifted considerably through the end of December 2025, according to a spring survey conducted by ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) — at least when it comes to TMC fleet members’ top maintenance worries. 

More than 400 TMC fleet members were asked to share their current top five fleet maintenance concerns, based on a wide-ranging list of 85 possible choices from which to select. Of those responding, the following were identified as the top reported concerns in descending order:

1.     The top maintenance issue identified in the Fall 2025 Survey was Aftertreatment.

2.     Cost Containment was identified as number two, rising from number five in the previous survey.

3.  Diagnostics was identified as the number three maintenance issue facing fleets, falling from number one in the previous survey.

4.  Root Cause Analysis was identified by fleets as number four.

5.  Labor Rates were identified as number five.

Root Cause Analysis & Labor Rates made the top five for the first time since TMC began conducting its Top 5 survey. Technician Shortage, Tires, and Technician-related concerns dropped off the top 5 list completely despite being in the top 5 last quarter.

Twenty-eight TMC fleet members responded to TMC’s “Experienced Component Service Life Survey,” which was administered in October and November 2025. The purpose of the follow-up to the Council’s original April/May 2025 study was to aid in establishing baseline for fleet-experienced service life for selected key components used in commercial vehicle applications. The survey was based on VMRS Code Key 33 (Component Codes), making it easier to aggregate fleet data. Participants were asked to provide experienced service life averages for 30 specific parts often used in heavy-duty commercial vehicle applications.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) earlier this year granted American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) a five-year exemption that will cut the time new technicians need to spend preparing to enter the workforce while maintaining high standards for safety and competency. Under the new policy, which ATA requested in 2020, technicians will be allowed to shorten to 540 hours the federally required one-year of training or experience needed to conduct commercial vehicle inspections and brake-related repair and maintenance, provided they received training based on TMC’s Recommended Practices (RPs).

In this webinar, Robert Braswell with TMC will detail how this new exemption applies to motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers and individuals, allowing them to self-certify that they have completed a training program based on TMC’s RPs. This RP-based training and certification, rather than the currently required year of additional training or work experience, “would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulatory requirements,” according to the FMCSA.

You will receive a certificate of attendance for this session that is for Professional Development purposes only. Please allow one week for automatic Email delivery of your certificate.

Not sure you can attend? Register anyway and you can view a recording of the session at any time and still get a certificate. Access to recorded sessions is reserved for those who register in advance for the live event. Don't put it off--register now!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

To register, click here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2490664767121757022

This week, Tech Talk With TMC will be held on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 from 9:30-10 am eastern.  Our guest is Mike Rowand, speaking on Strategies for Successful EV Infrastructure Implementation.

TMCSuperTech 2025 is now history! Congratulations to TMCSuperTech 2025 Grand Champion Matthew Sloan from FedEx Freight. 

Also congrats to TMCFutureTech 2025 champion Tully McKinley who won our student competition.

Video highlights from Day 2 of TMCSuperTech....

Video Highlights from Day 1 TMCSuperTech 2025

These are the 84 finalists for TMCSuperTech 2025. 

Raleigh, NC—Today, American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council opened TMC’s 2025 Fall Meeting & National Technician Skills Competitions here at the Raleigh Convention Center.

On this week’s edition of Tech Talk with TMC, host Jimmy Mac and co-host Robert Braswell, Executive Director of ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), welcome guest Dave Walters for an in-depth discussion on wheel and fastener maintenance.

Staff has received word today that Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) member Lisa Black, died on August 2, 2025.  She was 55 years old.

Born on January 14th, 1970, Black was an Irwin, Pennsylvania native. Black was said to be passionate in her work with trucking and safety at technologies companies including Amazon and Aurora. She was an avid traveler and had a passion for Pittsburgh sports and women’s soccer. 

Black was active in TMC’s S.18 Automated Vehicles Study Group having served S.18 as its Study Group Secretary from 2019 to 2024. She also chaired the Technician & Maintenance Shop Requirements for Automated Vehicles Task Force in S.18.  She was active in TMC’s Future Truck Committee as well, having served as Task Force Secretary for the Automated Driving and Platooning Task Force. 

Lisa was preceded in death by her mother Elaine Stewart. She is survived by her loving husband Pete; daughters Frances Black (Julianna Hubbard) and Sydney Black (Alec Boose); grandchildren Fiori Black and Tallulah Boose; father George Stewart III (Debbie); brothers George IV (Nancy), Chris (Barb), and Dan (Marty); sisters Michelle (Marty) and Colleen (Jim); countless aunts and uncles; countless cousins; countless nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Burial and services were private. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ott Funeral Home, Inc., 805 Pennsylvania Ave. Irwin, PA 15642. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.ottfuneralhome.com.

This week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors throughout North America will focus on the importance of properly functioning and well-maintained brake systems by conducting brake-focused inspections as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week.

From Aug. 24-30, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections, focusing on brake systems and components. Inspectors will record data about vehicle inspections and brake-related violations and submit that data to CVSA. The Alliance will report the results later this year.

In this special 20th anniversary edition of Tech Talk with TMC, hosts Dave Nemo and Jimmy Mac welcome back co-host Robert Braswell, Executive Director of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), for a historic conversation with longtime trucking executive and friend of the show, Darry Stuart. Together, they celebrate two decades of tackling the industry's toughest technical challenges, giving maintenance professionals a voice, and helping fleets of all sizes stay safe, smart, and efficient on the road.

The things that keep fleet managers up at night shifted considerably through the end of May 2025, according to a spring survey conducted by ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) — at least when it comes to TMC fleet members’ top maintenance worries.  The top maintenance issue identified in the Winter 2025 Survey was Diagnostics.