Doyle Sumrall, NTEA Managing Director
This article was published in the February 2019 edition of NTEA News.
We are entering a whole new age of truck certification service and support. NTEA is announcing the development of a full suite of tools enabling users to create certification labels, maintain a database of trucks certified and easily search records you’ve created. As an added benefit, it’s free — other than cost of the labels — to NTEA members (nonmembers pay an annual fee).
Several years ago, NTEA’s Board formed the Data Committee, and one of the issues at the forefront was the need for a system to track trucks being certified. Companies often have to search though reams of paper (sales orders, shop orders, incomplete vehicle books, etc.) to determine what they have mounted to a vehicle. The Committee asked NTEA to identify a potential solution, and after dedicated research and effort, we are ready to unveil a groundbreaking tool.
For more than 30 years, NTEA has provided guidance and resources to support members in meeting the federal requirement to certify trucks. The Association released a spreadsheet program in 2006 — the Label Printing Program — enabling users to print certification labels on a laser printer. While this has been a popular product, technology continues to evolve to offer greater capabilities and benefits. The new WorkTruckCert integrates Printing Program capabilities with added recordkeeping opportunities and guidance regarding common questions and federal requirements.
Thirty-plus NTEA member companies were invited to test WorkTruckCert, and anecdotal feedback indicates the tool is a breakthrough approach to truck certification and recordkeeping. WorkTruckCert is cloud-based (accessible anywhere you have a computer and internet) and secure with a database housed on Microsoft® Azure. Using a state-of-the art, leading supplier for the database was a cornerstone requirement during development. Individual security is also paramount. Per NTEA Board resolution, no single business’s data is accessible to any other company, and NTEA will only share aggregated results (as is the practice with all data the Association reports).
In addition to providing the capability to develop and print certification labels, WorkTruckCert allows the capture of basic vocational data. Users can indicate the body and major components that have been mounted to a given vehicle in a quick and consistent format, using drop-down selection boxes. Plus, the work order number can be printed on the certification label, which will be helpful if a truck is brought in with a question or in meeting any vehicle reporting needs.
Tire labels, multiple axles, more axles printed on the certification label, and many other member-requested enhancements are all a part of this tool. In addition, user guidance is built-in — hover over input titles for an explanation of information needed and to gain more insight. For instance, did you know there are choices for data required by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration? NTEA’s technical services department does, and those options have been built into the tool, along with other valuable tips.
WorkTruckCert will be accessible via a dedicated website, along with the ability to purchase supplies directly online. Additional associated tools and products are in development and will become available in the future.
See a live demonstration of WorkTruckCert at NTEA Booth 3400 at The Work Truck Show® 2019. Learn more at worktruckshow.com/nteaboothdemos.
Visit ntea.com/worktruckcert for more information and to sign up for notification when WorkTruckCert is released.