EVANS CITY, Pa. — The Tire Dealers Association of Western Pennsylvania (TDAWP) is offering its members the opportunity to take part in Tire Industry Association (TIA) training with a series of training classes to be held in the Keystone State.
The first class, for TIA Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Certification training, will take place March 15-17 at Skander Tire Service in Evans City, Pa. The class is open to TDAWP members and non-members.
Tire technicians interested in attending are encouraged to sign up quickly, as class size is limited to 12.
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"TIA is excited the western Pennsylvania tire dealers are offering this training to its members," CEO Richard Gust said.
"Raising the technical level and professionalism of technicians in the tire industry is a core component of both association's missions. We encourage all dealers in the region to take advantage of the training offering and to consider joining the TDAWP, if they are not already members."
Alex Skander, a TIA-certified ATS and Commercial Tire Service (CTS) instructor and third generation owner of the dealership, will teach the class, which will have an American Sign Language (ALS) interpreter participating. Skander recently was elected president of the TDAWP.
The ATS class will include two days of classroom work and a half-day of hands-on training. Skander said he recently renovated a former retread storage room to create a training studio at the dealership.
The TDAWP is charging $250 for members of the association, $360 attendees who are members of TIA or another state/regional association and $425 for participants who are not members of either association.
TIA's ATS certification program provides in-depth and comprehensive instruction on the recommended procedures for servicing passenger and light truck tires. Those who attend the class and successfully complete the Certified ATS exam will receive a certificate and 13 uniform patches.
The class consists of 15 modules ranging from raising the vehicle, to tire and wheel assembly removal, to the relationship between torque and clamping force, to the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) relearn procedures on domestic and import vehicles. It also includes an exclusive module on tire conditions analysis that uses images from TIA's Passenger and Light Truck Tire Conditions Manual to educate technicians on the most likely reasons for common irregular treadwear patterns.
Skander said the TDAWP intends to offer additional classes each quarter.
To learn more about the upcoming TDWPA training class and to register, visit the association's website or contact Skander at [email protected].
