Back to Basics Track

Whereas some industries must comply with mandatory certification regulations, commercial vehicle maintenance generally does not. However, that doesn’t mean there’s no benefit to seeking voluntary certification of one’s knowledge and expertise in the areas of technical and managerial ability.

In today’s economic climate, saving every penny is important in a trucking operation. Fleet managers know fuel and tires are the top two equipment-related expenses for a given commercial vehicle operation, and what fleet can afford to waste money in these areas?

Tire and wheel technology has come a long way during the last 50 years, but it often is not viewed by fleet managers as being “high-tech.” The reality couldn’t be farther from the truth, especially now. There’s simply much more to tire and wheel technology today than just rubber, metal, and air.

The trucking industry relies on diesel technicians to ensure the safe, reliable and efficient operation of its equipment. The trucking industry alone employed 57,300 diesel techs in 2024 – more than any other industry – according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. This represented 4.4 percent of all production and nonsupervisory employees in trucking, making techs the industry’s largest occupational group after truck drivers and warehouse workers.

There are a myriad of advances now available to help drivers complement safe driving practices. While no commercial vehicle safety technology replaces a skilled, alert driver exercising safe driving techniques and proactive, comprehensive driver training, new safety features now available can augment driver performance without sacrificing driver control. That being said, not all drivers are aware of the facts when it comes to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS), and sharing such knowledge is key to getting drivers onboard with ADAS and ADS.