A ramped-up Technical Tune-Up schedule, exciting new webinars, and publications aplenty. Motor Coach Industries has announced its 2010 training roster, and all operators should find something that will help them teach their technicians, steer their drivers or boost their business. It's all part of MCI's ongoing effort to help customers get the most out of their coaches, now and many miles down the road.

Technical Tune-ups

Free to MCI customers, MCI's hugely popular Technical Tune-ups will be slightly more numerous in 2010 and cover new topics as well as returning favorites.  According to Scott Crawford, MCI technical training manager, the sessions will include an enhanced Electronic Stability Control module and an expanded air systems class. New class topics will be on  air-conditioning compressors, introductory laptop diagnostics and kneeling systems. Back on the schedule are a disc brakes class as well as a multiplexing and schematics class that's more comprehensive than in previous years.

Also new this year will be the "MCI Challenge." "It's going to be a fun thing," says Crawford. "Students will break into teams and go out to identify and retrieve things on the bus with the help of a worksheet."

Regular Technical Tune-ups are scheduled for February 16 through February 19, April 20 through April 23 and September 14 through September 17. An additional Technical Tune-up is planned for Public Sector customers. The HVAC 608 / 609 exam is offered at no cost as an option to all Technical Tune-up attendees.

Two Advanced Technical Tune-ups for 2010

October 2009 marked MCI's first Advanced Technical Tuneup, a more hands-on experience intended for the most experienced technicians. It quickly sold out. MCI will offer two Advanced Technical Tuneup Sessions in 2010, March 16 through March 18 and October 12 through October 14.

Wes Kanaga, director of maintenance for Peoria Charter Coach, attended the first session Advanced Technical Tune-up and says he appreciated the classes for their focus on real-life issues. "They don't pull any punches," says Kanaga, who has nearly 40 years of mechanical experience under his tool belt and has attended the regular Technical Tune-ups as well. "You have to know what's going on with the coach and its systems before you do Advanced. I'd give it a glowing review."

Like Kanaga, Eric Kienzle, maintenance manager at Cedar Valley World Travel, Iowa, has attended both regular and Advanced Technical Tune-ups. "There's a lot of good information in both, but I learn a lot more from tearing something apart and putting it back together. In the advanced class, you really get into things."

Both Kanaga and Kienzle expressed the importance of keeping one's skills up. "It doesn't matter if you have five, 10 or 20 years of experience," says Kienzle, who's been working on coaches for about 10 years. "You're not going to know everything. Things change fast, and there's always something new." Says Kanaga, "When you think you've learned everything there is to learn, it's time to get out. It's a constant: education, education, education. It never ends."

Webinars

MCI's award-winning webinar series will continue in 2010. Winter topics include Diagnostics From the Driver's Seat; Regeneration; Preventative Maintenance Practices; Electronic Stability Control; and A/C and Spring Seasonal Preparation. For a full schedule, visit MCI's training page. (http://www.mcicoach.com/Webinar)

While MCI encourages operators to participate in real-time to take advantage of question-and-answer opportunities, MCI also records its webinars and makes them available online so customers can listen to them later, at their own convenience, or download a printable pdf version.  Recent topics have included managing costs and improving one's business model; tips and tools for optimizing the MCI Parts Store; SmartWave®; fleet winterization and the Motorcoach Council Campaign for building consumer awareness.

Publications

MCI makes a variety of publications available to its customers, from drivers' guides for quick on-the-road reference to full maintenance manuals. Many of MCI's most-popular publications are available in Spanish and French as well as English. For a full list, click here.

The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com.