TIA has announced the slate for its Truck Tires at 10 educational seminars at the upcoming 2010 Global Tire Expo.
The GTE, the only industry-wide, tires-only conference and trade show, will be held Nov. 1-5 in conjunction with the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
TIA had previously announced that it has set four educational session tracks for this year’s GTE: TPMS at 10, Truck Tires at 10, Tires at 2, and Management at 4.
The Truck Tires at 10 program will include:
Bead Lubricants and Chamber Fires (Wednesday, Nov. 3) – The problem of retreading chamber fires has been linked to certain bead lubricants and release agents used by commercial tire dealers. Besides the possible link to chamber fires, the use of these compounds also poses an occupational health risk to employees. This seminar will address the risks of using flammable bead lubricants and introduce extensive research on a new bead lubricant and release agent that is petroleum-free and non-flammable.
TMC Radial Tire & Disc Wheel Service Manual (Thursday, Nov. 4) – Last year, the ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council released the TMC Radial Tire & Disc Wheel Service Manual, a project that took years to complete and is the work of TMC’s S.2 Tire and Wheel Study Group. This seminar will outline the information contained in the TMC Radial Tire & Disc Wheel Service Manual and demonstrate how it can be used as a reference in the field.
Those sessions join these previously announced programs:
TPMS at 10:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: TPMS Service and Maintenance – Tire dealers must adapt to numerous systems with unique service procedures. The lack of standardization is often the source of lost productivity and lower customer satisfaction. This session will cover key service principles for all types of TPMS and the importance of having quick access to part numbers and relearn procedures. As part of this presentation, there will also be a TPMS overview for every major domestic and import manufacturer.
Wednesday, Nov. 3: TPMS Scan Tool Panel – Without a properly formatted TPMS relearn or scan tool, a technician cannot determine why the TPMS indicator light remains illuminated after the relearn procedure has been completed. This panel will feature the top technical experts from each of the major TPMS relearn/scan tool manufacturers who will provide attendees with a quick glimpse of the functions that their respective tools can deliver and then participate in a question and answer session following the presentations.
Thursday, Nov. 3: Turning TPMS into a Profit Center – Discover how dealers can make TPMS a profit center instead of an expense. This discussion will cover the steps that companies can take from the sales counter all the way to the service bay to ensure that TPMS does not become a burden. By following the guidelines in this presentation, dealers are sure to increase their TPMS component sales and boost profits.
Tires at 2:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets – With an all-new panel, this year’s presenters will focus on employee compensation, marketing, and customer retention, and will also provide some additional insight on a specific aspect of their business that is the key to their success.
Wednesday, Nov. 3: Strong Selling in a Weak Economy – Fixing the bottom line is often accomplished by focus on revenue at the top. Without any major economic turnarounds on the horizon, tire dealers need to improve their sales skills more than ever. The economic challenges currently facing the retail tire and auto service industry will be discussed, and essential success factors and proven sales and customer service strategies to succeed in today’s weak market will be given.
Thursday, Nov. 4: Establishing a Wheel Torque Program – There has been a lot more attention on wheel torque lately, with dealers recognizing the liability that is created when a tire/wheel assembly is incorrectly installed. In this session, attendees will receive a comprehensive look at each component of a wheel torque program. This session will also discuss the latest torque tool technology, in addition to the recalibration requirements for all types of torque control devices.
Management at 4:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace – Are You at Risk? – Most small business owners don’t think they have an employee drug or alcohol problem. Studies show that 19% of on-the-job fatalities test positive for either drugs or alcohol, and that abusers are 3.6 times more likely to have on-the-job accidents and five times more likely to file workers compensation claims. This session will help attendees understand the steps needed to establish a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.
Wednesday, Nov. 3: Mastering Management – This session, led by ContactPoint, will help attendees understand how to communicate more effectively, engage in customer service, and put your business ahead of your competitors. Dealers will learn skills that will help them separate from the rest of the industry and increase their ability to close every sale.
Thursday, Nov. 4: Effective Marketing and Profitable Sales Growth in the Fleet/Commercial Tire Segment – For years, tire dealers have struggled to grow profitably in the fleet space. Thanks to new programs available through national partners, dealers now have the ability to grow fleet sales without issues of cash flow, bad debt and collection costs. Attendees will learn how they can tap into the lucrative fleet market at this informative session.
Interested Expo attendees can find out the latest session and speaker information, as well as hotel reservation and TIA special event information by visiting the "Events" section of www.tireindustry.org. The latest GTE information and updates are also available on the website.
