One way or another, there can’t be many owner-operators who haven’t heard of TMC, the Technology and
Maintenance Council, a wing of the American Trucking Associations. It’s the continent’s premier
truck-maintenance organization, one that links truck operators with truck and component manufacturers in an
atmosphere of co-operation and learning.

That said, there are probably few owner-ops who realize that TMC membership isn’t for fleet managers alone.

TMC has a discounted membership plan expressly for owner-operators, defined as individuals who own or operate no more than five power units, with annual dues set at US$15O. The fleet price tag is nearly US$500.

As a TMC Owner/Operator Member, you would receive: the huge two-volume Recommended Practices Manual with regular supplements; a subscription to Fleet Maintenance & Technology, a quarterly magazine offering coverage of Council news and featuring in-depth articles on topics important to trucking professionals; and substantial savings on TMC meeting attendance, products and services. For example, you would receive up to 40% off publications such as the Radial Tire Conditions Analysis Guide, and up to 30% off meeting registration fees – including the huge annual Transportation Equipment Exhibition. The TMC Membership Directory, published annually, contains contact information for all TMC members. Sent free to all members, it can be an invaluable resource, also available online to members only.

As a member you’ll keep up with the latest recommended maintenance and engineering practices and mandated regulations of the industry. You’ll also benefit by getting practical, first-hand maintenance tips on topics ranging from how to troubleshoot engine cooling systems to how to spot and correct more than 200 types of irregular tire wear.

One of the more rewarding aspects of TMC membership could be participation on one of many task forces, which are groups made up of both operators and manufacturers focusing on specific topics with a view to creating a recommended spec’ing or maintenance practice. TMC is working to develop the trucks that will be operating in years to come, and several Future Truck task forces regularly present the user’s perspective — your requirements — to the nation’s truck engineers. As a TMC member, you could help guide future truck design.