Meritor Inc.’s aftermarket team unveiled mobile training with two new training trucks during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) 2014 that will deliver on-site product and systems education to warehouse distributors, independent service garages and fleets in the United States and Canada.
Each of the Nissan high-roof NV3500 trucks, wrapped in unique Meritor trailer decals, will offer hands-on training to service managers, shop supervisors, service technicians, maintenance directors, drivers and dealer-fleet trainers for drivetrain and undercarriage aftermarket components. Meritor designed the training trucks to meet the immediate needs of North American customers for aftermarket products and systems.
“We’ve been hearing loud and clear that our customers — the warehouse distributors, OE dealers and fleets — want more product education,” said Rick Martin, senior manager, aftermarket training, Meritor. “During the first 12 months, training will focus on braking systems, which will help the industry manage through changes and new demands.”
The training program was put together after Martin and Meritor’s aftermarket regional directors Keith Evans, Paul Petrie and Rick Grimm studied customer input and the training requests.
Meritor expects its training efforts to play a key role in contributing to fleets’ safety records. The mobile training trucks will deliver instructor-led training on brakes and brake systems during 2014. A training schedule will be released in early February.
Training will cover regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The curriculum will include an overview of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 121) stopping distance requirements, reduced stopping distance regulations and the new compliance and safety accountability (CSA) structure.
Both trucks are equipped with video monitors and working air systems boards, as well as actual brake hardware. For hands-on training purposes, each van will have actual cam and air disc brake hardware, friction and wheel ends, air valves, air dryers, Meritor WABCO RSS stability control systems, electronic diagnostics, automatic traction control, anti-lock brakes and collision mitigation systems.
For maximum effectiveness, the company will offer two styles of training sessions:
• City-wide training with two three-hour sessions covering eight distinct brake subjects at hotels in select major cities, conducted by Rick Martin
• One-on-one clinics at fleets, dealerships and warehouse distributor locations across the United States and Canada, conducted by DriveForce district managers
In addition to customer care centers in Brampton, Ontario, and Florence, Ky., Meritor offers after-the-sale support through www.meritorpartsonline.com, as well as online learning management system training, warranty support, order-tracking, and the Real Deal support services.
