By Nate Eichinger (LinkedIn), chair, NTEA Generation Next
If you are not aware, NTEA has a great collection of online courses available for free to members. Whether you have been in the industry for years or are brand new, Truck Equipment (TE) courses are an awesome resource to build your knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects of the work truck world. Below is an overview of different ways that these courses can be beneficial.
New to the industry? Meet TE101.
For those new to the work truck industry, it can feel overwhelming to have to learn new terminology, acronyms, systems and regulations. TE101 is a great place to gain a well-rounded foundation of knowledge about work trucks and the industry. Designed to be self-paced and comprised of 15 video-based modules, TE101 can be completed at the pace that works for you. Once you have completed TE 101, there are four different TE201 courses along with two TE Electrical courses that can be completed as well, depending on what additional knowledge will best fit your role. These courses can help shorten the learning curve to entering the industry and boost your confidence.
I have recommended TE101 to all new graduates or people entering the work truck industry for the first time.
Changing roles? Hello, TE201.
Making a role or company change can be a great way to accelerate your career and allow for personal and professional growth. It can also bring exposure to new areas of the industry where technical knowledge is key to success. TE201 courses covering certifications, powertrain systems, calibration, emissions and fuel economy can offer a great starting point to expanding that technical understanding. Just as with TE101, these are all self-paced, online courses, so you can fit them into your schedule. For anyone who needs to dive into truck frame fundamentals or weight distribution, there are even courses available for those topics (also free to NTEA members).
Want to expand your knowledge?
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge to better communicate with colleagues, vendors and customers, the TE courses can be a big benefit. These are not just for engineers — having a solid technical understanding of the industry will provide you with a foundation to speak confidently about complicated topics.
There is a TE Electrical Basics series that includes a course on electrical measurements as well as safety and fundamental principles, and another that focuses on the basics of electrical theory as well as explores automotive AC and DC voltage.
These courses all count toward NTEA Member Verification Program and International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) credit. Did I also mention that they are free to NTEA members? Check the courses out at ntea.com/onlineeducation.
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