BOWIE, Md. – The Tire Industry Association’s efforts to improve tire safety by offering six weeks of free Automotive Tire Service (ATS) video conference webinars in May and June was a huge hit.
More than 822 people from all segments of the industry and different parts of the world registered for the 30-minute classes that ran three times a day, three days a week for a total of 54 sessions. Roughly a quarter of the attendees (26%) registered were technicians, with the remainder a mix of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and vocational instructors.
TIA based the webinars off its highly regarded ATS and Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) training programs. Classes were taught by full-time TIA instructors. The webinars gave registrants a chance to preview the ATS program and learn about subjects such as Vehicle Lifting; Demounting, Mounting and Lifting; Balance; Wheel Torque; Tire Repair; and TPMS Service.
“We are pleased with the results of the ATS webinars,” said TIA President Brian Rigney. “A major part of our mission is to improve tire safety through training and education. These free online training classes are a perfect example of how TIA remains focused on that mission during COVID-19 by stepping up to support our members and the industry. In the process, we discovered a new vehicle for delivering TIA training that complements our existing certification classes and online university e-learning platforms.”
The classes were conducted via the Zoom platform, which allowed students to ask questions of their instructors in real time. As an added benefit, instructors stayed after class to work with students who wanted to get their questions answered in greater detail.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, we recognized early on we had to make some adjustments to our training model,” said Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training. “When we had a discussion after one of the first classes with an automotive repair shop on the island of Guam, it became obvious that the video conference approach creates new avenues for delivering TIA instructor-led training on multiple levels without any geographical barriers or travel concerns. Moving forward, it’s another tool in the toolbox for TIA to improve tire safety in the shop and on the highway.”
Buoyed by the success of the free ATS webinars, TIA will offer a similar three-week, free video conference webinar series in July directed at fleets that use mounted tire programs and the commercial tire dealers who provide those services.
The webinars will run between July 7 and July 21 and provide registrants the opportunity to preview TIA’s Commercial Tire Service (CTS) training program at no charge. Three topics will be covered, one each week. They include:
For questions regarding the CTS Fleet Tire Safety Training Webinars and TIA training/certification, contact training@tireindustry.org or register at https://www.tireindustry.org/fleet-tire-service-webinars.