The truck industry is undergoing changes as up-to-date technologies and emissions systems become more commonplace, and more electric powered trucks enter the market as the industry has had to pivot in order to meet new demands. As truck technology advances, technicians must also adjust their skillsets for these new technologies.
The 2022 Tech Skills Rodeo at Rush Enterprises Inc. shined a spotlight on the fast-paced evolution of commercial vehicle technology, with Justin Euler competing in the medium-duty category for his sixth year as an experienced technician from St. Peters, Mo. Notably, he has achieved grand champion status twice – in 2017 and 2019.
“The industry is getting ready to take a big turn,” Euler said. “You’re going to see diesel fade out. I think you’re going to see either hydrogen motor take on or you’re going to see more of an electric motor take on just because of the way the emissions are turning and everything.”
Euler observed a shift in the automotive industry, away from reducing nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions to concentrating on cutting CO2 levels and improving fuel efficiency.
“Unfortunately, we just can’t keep up with the emissions and the greenhouse gases with the diesel engine,” Euler said. “I definitely think we’re moving toward the electric phase and the autonomous phase and the natural gas phase or the hydrogen phase.”
Jason Swann, a heavy-duty technician from Dallas, has been to every tech rodeo since it launched in 2006, and is also a two-time grand champion. He also spoke to the challenge of keeping up with technology and the role this plays in in a tech’s success.
“It’s really just trying to keep up with the technology,” Swann said. “Everything is changing. It seems like the manufacturers have to one-up themselves every year or they’re not in it. So, we’re constantly having to learn about the new [electronic control unit] they put on it or they’ve completely done away with this, changed it and put it all over here. It’s a mess.”
Swann spoke of the challenge ahead in preparing technicians for new electric vehicle technologies. Not only are truck repair tools becoming increasingly difficult to wield with lowered vehicles designed for greater aerodynamic efficiency, but there is a training gap as well that must be addressed before these advances can become mainstream.
“There’s a lot of worry that’s involved in autonomous,” Swann added, raising questions about potential safety concerns and liability involved with repair work for a self-driving vehicle.
Jon Steckman, a technician from Columbus Ohio and one of 2019’s all-around reserve champions in the heavy-duty service category, has taken on an important mission: fostering knowledge retention among new technicians. As technology advances rapidly each day, Steckman recognizes that having trained personnel is even more essential to success than ever before.
“I personally like the technology,” Steckman said. “Having more things to break is always a good thing as a technician. There’s definitely some hurdles with the new training coming out. I wish the manufacturers would come out with better training on some of the newer technology sooner.”
Since Steckman attended a technical school in 2000, he’s observed improvements to training and more hands-on opportunities. Despite this progress, however, he is worried that those being trained are struggling to remember the knowledge they’ve acquired.
“You get what you put into it,” Steckman said. “I don’t really know what we could do to improve those guys absorbing some of that. It’s how much they want to put into it and get out of it as well.”
Euler cautioned that electric vehicles and other rapidly advancing technologies could potentially leave technicians behind if the switch happens too quickly. He emphasized two key issues: adequate education to ensure expertise, as well as timely implementation which allows for proper training with tools and materials.
“It depends on how fast the industry brings it on,” Euler said. “If it’s just like a one-year deal or a two-year deal where bang, you fade out the diesel and then two years you’re already full electric or you’re hydrogen, I think it’s going to be hard for a technician to keep up. If you make it slowly transition over like a four- or five-year period, I think the technicians will be able to keep up.”
With the gradual rollout of new technologies, Euler and Swann emphasized that manufacturers are able to position themselves for success by ensuring they have access to adequate training materials. This helps protect against potential failure points before any mass adoption.
“They’re doing their best to get the training out and the information that we have available to us,” Swann said. “So long as whoever the manufacturer or supplier is gets their information to us and provides support, we’re usually OK.”
Source: ttnews
