Technical and Product
Training for Truck
Specialists Since
1 9 6 4
1090 Eugenia Pl., Suite 101
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Tel: 805 684 4558
Fax: 805 684 2868
Some Common Questions & Answers
Why don't you offer online courses? In a way, we do. Since the scope, depth, and technical nature of the training we provide requires a good deal of study time and reading, we have found print based books with optional "eBooks" and hard copy tests are best suited to the goal. Our students typically use online sources for product data, while completing the written tests, perhaps using the optional PDF for searching through the textbooks.
How are the tests graded? Each test is graded by hand, often with comments from your TMI instructor.
Why can't I download the tests for the course I am enrolled in? Since the courses all use open book tests, we want to control the distribution of the tests. All of our tests are printed and mailed to you, with your name on them.
Ok, I am in a big hurry, can I get the tests faxed to me? With the permission of the instructor, yes. We want to see how you have done on the last test before you get in too deep on the next ones.
What is a passing grade? A test score average of 75 % is a passing grade. If your get less than that you need to retake the test for a maximum possible score of 90%. One more chance after that is given on a Pass/Fail basis—maximum of 75% possible.
Can we work in Group? If others at your location are working on the course you could create a study group, BUT the exams must be taken individually—"keep your eyes on your own paper". We very often find out who is not doing their own work, and when that happens the test must be retaken on a Pass/Fail basis. A passing grade is 75%.
Do you offer courses in Swahili? No, TMI courses are only available in English, and a proficiency in English is a prerequisite.
Why do you have a surcharge on Canadian enrollments? We don't. We calculate an approximate exchange rate when we set the tuition costs. You can pay the same amount in US$ as a student in the USA. We just give an option to pay in Canadian dollars.
I don't have the product data sources, can you supply this? No, you will need to contact the appropriate factory people for that. If it is not available to you, we do have general courses for medium and heavy applications that make use of the Gasoline or Diesel Truck Index, and we can supply those books. We no also offer a light-duty "General" course that is non-make specific and does not require factory product data.
I ordered a TMI course five days ago, where is it? We ship course materials using the US Postal services Media Mail, and it can take 12 days.
How soon will I know what score I achieved on a test? Often the tests are graded within a business day after they arrive at TMI. If you fax the test in, your instructor will fax, or email back a note with the grade. The graded test, with comments, is mailed back to you — we do not keep a copy on file. We do not fax the graded test.
What if I do not have easy access to a fax machine? We provide postage paid envelopes for US & Canada.
How frequently are courses updated? We use digital printing for all of our books, and as a result we can update as frequently as every six months, depending on how "volatile" the material is. The tests are often updated more frequently than that.
Do you publish your own books? Yes, the textbooks are published, and copyrighted by Truck Marketing Institute.
What size or format are the textbooks? The pages are 5.5 x 8.5 inches, three hole drilled, and come in a binder. This allows us to customize the books or update pages between print runs.
Page counts for the Precision Truck Training textbooks are as follows:
Course I, Light Duty Basics range from 104 to 112 pages depending on the make covered.
Course II, Medium Duty Basics textbook is 310 pages.
Course III, Heavy Duty Trucks and Tractors textbook is 392 pages.
Course IV, Mid Range Diesels textbook is 354 pages. Also included in the binder is our Truck Data Digest which is about 226 pages of Truck Specifications.
LT-2 Light Truck Essentials, the textbook for this new course is up to 218 pages, depending on the make of truck the course is focused on.
Can I get a sample of the textbook to get a better idea of the course coverage? Yes. We have Acrobat PDF samples of representative pages for most of the TMI books. You can download and review them from the Book Sample page.
Do you have courses that make use of "eBook" technology? Yes, all of course courses, except course II, have an Acrobat PDF version of the textbook as a $30 option. This is suppled on a CD that can be read by Macintosh and Windows computers. Adobe Acrobat Reader software is supplied on the disc.
