Contact Information | Lodging Information | Courses
What is the Institute?
The Transportation Institute is an
outreach-training program designed to provide skill
building repair seminars for trucks and heavy equipment.
The program started as an MDOT program but has grown to
serve MDOT, local municipalities, county garages,
independent garages, and fleet operations.
What is Institute designed to do?
The Transportation Institute Seminars are
designed to give theory and applications/skill building
training in a variety of topic areas to mechanics,
technicians, and supervisory personnel.
Why is it important to attend?
To upgrade skills and knowledge in a
variety of topic areas.
To help prepare you for certification testing by
obtaining knowledge in new areas as well as reviewing and
perfecting current skills.
Who should attend?
Mechanics, Technicians, and Supervisors who
need training or updating in the various areas of
instruction.
Why is Ferris qualified to offer the Institute?
Field-tested instructors and modern up to
date equipment in our labs allows us to keep programming
up-to-date and applications based. Labs are equipped to
give all participants hands on training.
Where are classes held?
Classes will be held in the Heavy Equipment
Technology Center on the campus of Ferris State University,
The address is 220 Sports Drive. Big Rapids, MI
49307
Who teaches the seminars?
Seminars are taught by hands-on oriented
faculty members of Ferris who have practical work
experience as well as teaching experience.
Special Notes for Participants:
Training for all workshops will be divided
between classroom instruction, demonstration, and
'hands-on' lab exercises. Leather shoes / boots and safety
glasses will be required during all demonstrations and
exercises. Evaluations of workshop participants will be
based upon a combination of written questions, night
assignments, and performance of practical tasks.
Contact Information for Transportation Institute
Questions regarding the seminars contact:
Mr. Matthew J. McNulty Heavy Equipment Technology
Ferris State University 220 Sports Drive
Big Rapids, Ml 49307-2741
(231) 591-2810
Lodging Information
Participants are responsible for their own meals and overnight lodging.
Country Inn & Suites
15344 Waldron Way | Big Rapids MI 49307
Reservations: (800) 596-2375 US/Canada Toll-free
Phone: (231) 527-9000
Email: cx_brmi@countryinns.com
Holiday Inn Hotel
1005 Perry Street | Big Rapids, Michigan 49307
Email:sales@Hibigrapids.com
Phone: (231) 796-4400 or (800) 999-9069
Quality Inn & Suites
1705 S. State Street | Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: (231) 592-5150
Super 8
845 Water Tower Road | Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: (231) 796-1588
For more lodging information contact the Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Transportation Institute Summer Workshop
(14hours)This seminar is designed to the basic theory of electricity and electronics as applied to the heavy equipment industry. Instruction will include use of instruments for measuring current, voltage, and resistance. Lab exercises will focus on calculating current draws, voltage drops, and resistances of series, parallel, and a combination of series and parallel circuits. Lab exercises will also include the construction and testing of series, parallel and series/parallel circuits. (Basic electronic systems)
TI-102 Electrical Circuits 2
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to teach
participants to understand the relationship between voltage,
amperage, and resistance. Instruction will include construction,
testing, and troubleshooting of basic electrical circuits. Lab
exercises will focus on the relationship of voltage, amperage,
and resistance, along with diagnosing circuit conditions by
interpreting voltage and voltage drop readings. Lab exercises
will also focus on the construction, operation, diagnosing, and
troubleshooting of cranking circuits and cranking circuit
failures using up-to-date, hand-held and portable testing
equipment.
TI-103 Electrical Circuits 3
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to teach the
function and operation of charging circuits along with teaching
participants to perform basic battery testing, troubleshooting,
and maintenance. Instruction will include the testing and
diagnosing of charging circuits that are used in a variety of
diesel and gasoline powered vehicles. Lab exercises will focus on
the disassembly of alternators, along with testing,
troubleshooting, and diagnosing failures of charging circuits.
Lab exercises will also include maintenance and charging,
troubleshooting, and diagnosing failures of batteries used in the
transportation industry.
TI-105 Air Conditioning Principles and Operation
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to teach air
conditioning principles, and how to diagnose, troubleshoot, and
properly maintain mobile AC systems. Seminar instruction will
include AC systems using R-12 and 134a refrigerants. Instruction
will also include the function, operation, diagnosing, and
troubleshooting of the most common types of metering valves and
control circuits used in today's mobile AC systems. Labs
will focus on component identification and their function within
the AC system. Labs will also focus on connecting and
disconnecting of gauge sets, leak detection, refrigerant recovery
and recycling, evacuation and dehydration, recharging,
troubleshooting, and diagnosing failures of mobile AC systems. SE
certification for refrigerant recovery and recycling will be
available at participant's expense. ($28.00)
TI-106 Diesel Engine Operation & Tune-up
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to teach the
principles of operation of the four-cycle diesel engine.
Instruction will include the operation, tune-up procedures, and
troubleshooting of electronic fuel injection systems used on the
Cummins N14 (CELECT), and the Detroit Diesel Series 60 (DDECIII)
diesel engines. Lab exercises will focus on the identification,
location, and testing of electronically controlled diesel fuel
system components. Lab exercises will also focus on the use of
hand-held and laptop test units to troubleshoot and diagnose
failures of electronic diesel fuel injection circuits.
TI-107 Fundamentals of Hydraulics
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to teach the
theory and practical application of fluid power principles as
applied to the heavy equipment industry. Instruction will include
testing, diagnosing, and troubleshooting of mobile hydraulic
systems and their components. Lab exercises will focus on reading
and understanding hydraulic schematics and symbols, along with
using pressure gauges and flow meters to test, troubleshoot, and
diagnose failures of hydraulic systems.
TI-108 Electrical Power Generation I—Theory
(36 hrs.) This seminar will be principles
orientated, focusing on the fundamentals of electrical circuits,
single phase and three phase power. This seminar will consist of
thirty-six hours of instruction and lab. It will be a
prerequisite for the second electrical power generation
seminar.
TI-109 Elec. Power Generation II—Application
(36 hrs.) This seminar will be application
oriented, focusing on specific equipment and controls such as
generators, electronic governors, voltage regulators, and
automatic transfer switches. [INVALID]ed sections of the National
Electric Code as it applies to generators will be covered. There
will be thirty-six hours of instruction. Electrical Power
Generation I is a required prerequisite for this seminar.
TI-110 Elec. Power Generation III— Controls
(36 hrs.) This seminar will be application
oriented, building on the material learned in Electrical Power
Generation I and II. Paralleling controls, Electrical Switchgear,
and Multiple automatic transfer switches will be covered. The
different uses for Generators like Hospitals, Peak shaving,
Emergency Lighting and Cogeneration. There will be thirty-six
hours of instruction and lab. Electrical Power Generation I &
II are required prerequisite for this seminar.
TI-111 Basic Maintenance Welding
(16 hours) This seminar is designed to teach the
theory and practical application of maintenance welding
procedures. Emphasis will be placed on the theory, safety, and
welding techniques required to make basic weld joints in multiple
positions using oxy-acetylene, shielded metal arc, gas tungsten
arc and gas metal arc welding. Lab exercises will focus on metal
identification, joint preparation, oxy-acetylene cutting, and arc
welding processes.
TI-211 Advanced Maintenance Welding
(16 hours) This seminar is designed to teach theory and
practical application of advanced welding procedures. Emphasis is
placed on the theory, basic metallurgy and out-of-position
welding techniques of SMAW, GTAW, GMAW and FCAW on carbon steel,
stainless steel, aluminum and cast iron. A review of shop safety
procedures and metal identification techniques will be included.
Lab exercises will be focused on instructor demonstration of
various welding processes, student hands-on material
identification and student operation of various welding
processes.
TI-112 Pre-CDL Test Review I
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to
familiarize the applicant with the information needed to take and
pass the Michigan Commercial Drivers License Program Knowledge
test. Instruction will include information about the Michigan
Commercial Driver License Program, types of licenses available,
driving commercial vehicles safely, vehicle inspection and
operating the vehicle in a safe manner. The applicant will also
be instructed in the proper handling of cargo and safe
transportation of cargo. Instruction will be given for all
endorsements allowed by the State of Michigan and information on
obtaining an air brake endorsement.
TI-113 Pre-CDL Test Review II
(14 hours) This seminar is designed for
applicants who have taken the knowledge test and are now
preparing to take the Michigan CDL skills test. Instruction will
include all the requirements the applicant must have before
taking the skills test. Instruction will also be given in each
separate area of the skills test, pre-trip inspection, the basic
control skills test and the driving test. Lab exercises will
focus on each of the areas and each student will be given an
opportunity to operate a truck on the skills course. A sample of
the driving test will also be demonstrated by the instructor and
students will be shown areas of special concern when taking an
actual driving test.
TI-114 Truck Motor Vehicle Regulations
(14 hours) This seminar is designed to assist
anyone who is involved with commercial vehicle operation, control
or maintenance and the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Regulations. Discussions will include definitions of
terms, CDL groups and endorsements, and driver qualifications.
Alcohol and drug testing and awareness. Inspection, repair and
maintenance. Driver's hours of service, and laws that
pertain to axle weight limits and requirements specific to the
State of Michigan.
