First of the irtec trailer technicians now accredited 12 October 2012

The IRTE-pioneered licensing scheme irtec has now been extended to include a route for heavy vehicle trailer technicians – the first accreditation of its kind in the trailer industry.

And this week, the first Trailer Inspection Technician licences were awarded at The Manchester College, to trailer technicians from Clugston Distribution, LD Asset Management, Suttons and TIP Trailer Services.

All were awarded their irtec licences at a ceremony attended by representatives from the trailer industry, IRTE, IMI (The Institute of the Motor Industry), and irtec assessment centres City of Bristol College, The Manchester College, North Lindsey College and Stephenson College.

irtec already provides industry-recognised benchmarks of competence for passenger carrying and commercial vehicle technicians at Service Maintenance Technician, Inspection Technician and Advanced Technician levels.

The introduction of the new route to the Inspection Technician licence for trailer technicians has been welcomed by the trailer industry as a much-needed independent verification of required technical skills.

TIP Trailer Services put staff forward to take part in the first trailer assessments at The Manchester College, and TIP maintenance leader Dave Parr says: "For me, irtec works on a number of levels. It gives the technicians confidence and motivation that there is an industry qualification out there for them.

"It also gives TIP the confidence that we have employed technicians who are competent to a standardised industry level. And it gives customers the confidence that TIP and our technicians are committed to deliver superior quality trailer maintenance."

irtec is a five-year renewable licence that accounts for technicians' current competence, ensuring that they keep in-step with technology and legislation.

Ian Chisholm, head of operations and communications at IRTE's umbrella organisation, SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), says: "Before now, there has been no formal industry recognition of the professional skills of trailer technicians.

"With the advancement of equipment and the sophistications of modern trailer design we feel the introduction of this new trailer Inspection Technician licence encourages these technicians to keep pace with the rate of technological advances in the trailer sector and offers their employers the opportunity to demonstrate their own commitment to best practice."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Society of Operations Engineers

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