FMCSA approves IANA’s exemption request for equipment inspectors’ training

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration approved an application submitted by the Intermodal Association of North America allowing for a chassis mechanic to be qualified as an equipment or brake inspector, provided that he/she has successfully completed a training program consistent with the intermodal recommended practices included in the IANA Guide to Chassis Inspection and Repair. Without the exemption an individual must have a combination of training or experience totaling at least one year for qualification. The approval of this exemption is an example of a working partnership between the government and the private sector to develop a collaborative solution in response to a pressing industry need.  

In requesting the exemption, IANA maintains that a performance-based approach to training can be as effective, if not more so, than time-based training. “The anticipated benefits from this exemption are industry-wide, including greater safety, reduced roadside breakdowns and improved customer service,” said Joni Casey, president and CEO of IANA. “This will also lay the groundwork for the recruitment of much needed industry resources.” 

Approximately 25,000-30,000 mechanics across the United States are currently qualified to work on intermodal equipment. However, the industry need is substantially higher - on the order of 40,000 mechanics, with an estimated 20 percent turnover rate in mechanics each year. 

The IANA Guide to Chassis Inspection and Repair, the output of IANA’s Maintenance & Repair Committee, brings together the 53 intermodal recommended practices that are necessary for the proper inspection and repair of intermodal chassis. The development of these recommended practices included broad-based input from experts across the industry with real-world, operational experience, providing exceptional guidance for the development of training programs to meet FMCSA's goal to have safe and roadworthy intermodal equipment on the highways. The Committee also developed comprehensive Competency and Task List documents highlighting the key knowledge statements chassis mechanics need to know, along with their application in the intermodal recommended practices.