Welcome to VMRS 2000™! T - American Trucking …

1 This handbook is designed to help motorcarriers, software designers, informationspecialists and industry suppliers implement theVehicle maintenance Reporting Standards( vmrs ) the industry standard coding conven-tion for tracking equipment and maintenanceinformation. This book provides an outline ofVMRS, its advantages to equipment users andindustry suppliers, and guidance on the basicimplementation development of vmrs began in 1969,undertaken jointly by the maintenance Commit-tee of the Regular Common Carriers Conference,the National Ac-counting and Fi-nance Council, andthe ManagementSystems Committeeof American Truck-ing Associations(ATA). The Union 76 Division of UnionOil of California through its partici-pation in the ATAF oundation sponsored the initialVMRS study. TheVMRS Committee sreport was published in 1970, and its recommen-dations to the industry establishing a stan-dard coding convention for universally trackingequipment and maintenance costs and functions were approved and adopted by the ExecutiveCommittee of American Trucking AssociationsWelcome to vmrs 2000 !

2 In October 1970. Since 1970, American TruckingAssociations has served as the official custodianof vmrs updating this dynamic standard tomeet motor carrier and industry supplier 1997, The maintenance Council (TMC) ofAmerican Trucking Associations became custo-dian of vmrs , embarking on a thorough reviewof vmrs at the commercial vehicle industry srequest. vmrs 2000 is the latest version ofthis successful standard. In 2001, TMC ex-panded its mission to include informationtechnology and logistics, becoming the Technol-ogy & maintenance development ofVMRS 2000 is owedin large part to thevolunteer efforts ofmany segments of theequipment mainte-nance to the work ofmany dedicatedindividuals, VMRS2000 is a universalcoding system thatcan be implementedsuccessfully by anyindustry which mustmaintain and operateequipment whether it be Trucking , transit, off-road, agricultural, or utility ultimate utility and application of VMRS2000 is limited only by the creativity of theuser.

3 Welcome onboard! vmrs 2000 is a universalcoding language that can beimplemented successfully byany industry which must trackthe costs of maintaining andoperating T. KirkExecutive DirectorTechnology & maintenance CouncilRobert M. BraswellTechnical DirectorTechnology & maintenance CouncilLew FlowersVMRS Codes Committee ChairmanUnited States Postal Service2 vmrs 2000 Implementation Handbook (Version ) Copyright 2007, TMC/ATAWhat is vmrs ?Since 1970, the purpose of vmrs has been toprovide a vital communication link betweenmaintenance personnel, computers, and man-agement. It establishes a universal languagefor fleets, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), industry suppliers, computers, andthose people whose responsibility it is to specify,purchase, operate, and maintain by and for equipment users underthe auspices of American Trucking Associations, vmrs provides the discipline necessary fordifferent industry segments to communicatewith each other. vmrs is the shorthand ofmaintenance reporting, eliminating the need forextensive written communications with all theinherent problems of miscommunication nor-mally associated with the written meet the ever-changing needs of the equip-ment industry, the Technology & MaintenanceCouncil (TMC) of American Trucking Associa-tions serves as the official custodian of provides OEMs, manufacturers, partsuppliers, and equipment users with updatedcodes on an as needed basis reflective ofcurrent equipment design and the informationalneeds of the vmrs is vmrs 2000 ?

4 vmrs 2000 is the latest version of the vmrs coding convention, established more than 25years ago. vmrs 2000 represents a significantstep forward in the evolution of on user requests, TMC has: Expanded Code Key 31 to acccommodatean ever-increasing interest in the uniquereporting needs of the off-highway or stationary equipment market. As aresult, TMC has made full use of theexpanded three-digit code so that theseequipment types are addressed. Forexample, System Code (X6X) has beencreated to accommodate equipmentdependent attachments. The introduc-tion of this system allows users to trackthe expense associated with major attach-1. An Introduction to vmrs 2000 ments (those that warrant their own assetnumber) that are only operational whenattached to a host piece of equipment( a truck mounted snow blower, orperhaps a plow). Increased the total number of codes inCode Key 33, Component Codes to over15,700. Expanded to Code Key 15, Work Accom-plished and Code Key 18, TechnicianFailure Code to satisfy customer de-mands.

5 Updated Code Key 40, Brake System TypeCode, and created Code Key 20, Equip-ment Status Code. We ve also added CodeKey 82, a condition report code for driv-ers. Expanded Code Key 34, which is used toidentify manufacturers, suppliers, andbrands. Expanded Code Keys 1, 2 , 10 and 48,which describe equipment vocations,categories and body types. These codesnow accommodate many industriesbeyond Trucking , such as transit, off-highway and construction industries. Added Position Codes to vmrs . CodeKey 79 allows vmrs users to identifyposition based on industry-acceptedconventions. Added warranty-related Code Keys, suchas Code Key 81: Type of Claim. Improved the vmrs ImplementationHandbook, by upgrading text and graphics,and making available an electronic ver-sion of vmrs , for easy implementationinto existing computer systems. Established a vmrs 2000 licensingprogram to encourage consistent industryuse of Structured Coding SystemVMRS is a structured coding system, providingthe discipline necessary to operate in today scomputer-based information age or wheredesired as a completely manual in concept, vmrs can be used at anylevel, from total operating systems down to the3 vmrs 2000 Implementation Handbook (Version ) Copyright 2007, TMC/ATAindividual part level.

6 The level of coding usedis entirely up to the user. One can select thelevel of reporting detail at any time without theneed to redesign the coding structure or imple-ment costly new programs. No matter whichlevel the user selects, the data collected can becompared directly to data collected by others atthe same or higher vmrs coding coding structure encompasses most equip-ment found within today s transportationactivities including trucks, tractors, trailers,forklifts, shop equipment, off-road vehicles,utility vehicles, InternationallyToday, equipment users worldwide use VMRSto capture and report their equipment mainte-nance activities. Equipment manufacturers andmaintenance software suppliers use vmrs coding for parts, thus providing additionalimpetus for fleets to adopt this universal complete service industry has grown uparound vmrs , with a number of firms offeringVMRS computerized reporting systems and/orservices to fleets. This manual will help yoursoftware provider utilize vmrs to your Distinct Advantages to VMRST here are 15 distinct advantages to using vmrs :1.

7 vmrs is Easy to Use vmrs was de-signed for use at the shop level. Accurateand easily understood reporting by themechanic is essential if any informationsystem is to succeed. At the higher level,management must understand what themechanic has accomplished. vmrs meetsboth vmrs is Cost Effective TMC hasundertaken the initial cost normallyassociated with developing such a practicality of the system has beenproven, in that vmrs has been in continu-ous use since 1970. TMC keeps the systemdynamic, thus eliminating the need forindividual users to continually researchand update their Follows Accepted AccountingPractices The vmrs code structureallows the user to comply with the needsof most recognized accounting provides the flexibility to properlymassage data to meet both immediate andlong-term vmrs Enables Sound Budgeting vmrs provides a sound basis for budgetpreparation and forecasting based on fleetmix, projected utilization, and historicperformance.

8 Requests for additionalmechanics, increased parts inventory,special equipment, or expanded facilitiescan readily be supported by data capturedusing vmrs . vmrs is invaluable indetermining how many pieces of equip-ment are required to support a givenworkload. The same data can be used todetermine the mechanic/parts mix re-quired to support various equipmentmixes and utilization vmrs Helps Control Costs vmrs provides detailed records of the mainte-nance activity comprising both equipmentand facilities. It identifies where monieswere spent, at which point in the life of apiece of equipment repairs were per-formed, and details the expenses incurredin the supporting activity. Distributionbetween parts and labor is an inherentpart of the vmrs reporting structure, thusallowing analysis of what occurred andwhen. This is important in determiningthe cause-and-effect relationship of vmrs Improves FacilityManagement vmrs provides the idealbasis for establishing a facility manage-ment program.

9 The coding structureprovides the basis for complete labor andmaterial distribution, direct and indirect,thus allowing management the opportu-nity to analyze in detail each cost this information, management cantake whatever action is deemed appropri-ate to correct those situations whichappear out of line. This informationprovides the necessary input for mostpurchasing 2000 Implementation Handbook (Version ) Copyright 2007, TMC/ATA7. vmrs Tracks Labor Distribution vmrs provides complete labor distribu-tion covering both direct and vmrs Helps Control Parts Inventory vmrs was developed, and is used withinthe industry, as the basis of many success-ful parts inventory control systems. Somefleets have developed their own systemsusing vmrs , while others utilize off-the-shelf programs designed and built aroundthe vmrs coding structure. vmrs pro-vides complete details as to parts use, thusidentifying which part should be invento-ried and which should be procured on an as needed" basis.

10 For those states havingan Inventory Tax, vmrs provides docu-mented vmrs Supports Warranty Claims TheVMRS coding structure incorporates thecapability to record and isolate those costsnormally associated with warranty. Beinga universal language, accepted and en-dorsed by equipment manufacturers andindustry suppliers, vmrs provides theideal audit trail for instituting and sup-porting warranty claims. New Code Keyshave been developed exclusively forwarranty, such as Code Key 81 - Type ofClaim, Code Key 83 - Response ReasonCode and Code Key 84 - Claim ResponseStatus vmrs Improves PreventiveMaintenance Programs vmrs providesthe ideal basis for determining the effec-tiveness of the PM program. Are PMsbeing performed too often or not oftenenough? Should PM intervals or theirscopes be modified based on specificfailures reported through maintenancereporting? What staffing is required toperform PMs? vmrs provides the vmrs Helps BenchmarkEquipment and Labor Productivity Thestandards provide data necessary formeasuring labor productivity.