Ron Ruisz to Lead IMTI Training Operations

ron ruisz - Press release download

​Hodgkins, IL (January 18, 2018) --- Effective February 5, 2018, IMTI will welcome Ron Ruisz as its Director of Training and Operations.  Mr. Ruisz joins IMTI from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, where he served for 17 years, most recently as Manager of Mechanical Premium Operations North.  Based out of IMTI’s flagship Chicagoland area facilities, Mr. Ruisz will lead training operations for the intermodal trade school, coinciding with registrations for the upcoming February 19, 2018 class.
 
Mr. Ruisz brings 33 years of singular focus on the maintenance and repair of intermodal equipment.  Following successful completion of his contract with the United States Air Force, he joined the trucking industry in 1979, moved to the railroad sector in 1999 and was an early stage intermodal operator, as early as 1985.  
 
Beginning at the entry level on intermodal terminals, he then moved to crane maintenance and was quickly promoted into terminal and regional mechanical management of intermodal equipment, cranes, containers, chassis and automobile loading ramps for the Union Pacific Railroad. 
 
Fully focused on intermodal maintenance and repair, Mr. Ruisz has served on the Chicago Car Interchange Bureau (CCIB) Board of Directors for the past 19 years, with multiple terms as Chairman.  The CCIB Board also serves as the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Rules Subcommittee.  Mr. Ruisz pioneered the development of intermodal maintenance billing technologies and processes which now serve as industry standards across all platforms.  Furthermore, he authored the first AAR intermodal pictorial chassis and container repair manual. 
 
As a CCIB officer, he co-facilitated AAR’s Intermodal Interchange Rule updates in their entirety, to include the repair guidelines, as well as the job, why made and location code matrix.   Mr. Ruisz served as the primary developer of a revolutionary chassis transporter for the reposition intermodal chassis, resulting in millions of annualized dollar savings for the industry.
 
According to IMTI Founders Jenny Johnson and Tuesday Monts, “Ron has worked tirelessly and successfully to improve the integrity of intermodal lift equipment, containers and chassis through his constant development and redevelopment of effective maintenance & repair processes and training.  His primary career endeavor has been and remains to maximize the integrity of intermodal maintenance and repair through safety, best practices, collaboration with industry leaders and technology.  As such, we are pleased to welcome him to our growing team of industry experts.”
 
About the Intermodal Mechanic Training Institute (IMTI):
 
The Intermodal Mechanic Training Institute (IMTI), is a provider of specialized training serving the freight transportation industry with primary focus on intermodal mechanic trade skill sets, continuing education, distance e-learning and customized onsite training for intermodal operators. 

IMTI trains mechanics and terminal personnel to keep intermodal equipment operating safely and within Federal regulations.  Replacing months of inefficient on the job training, IMTI’s flagship Chicagoland facility, offers a rolling, 3-week, full immersion training program, providing new chassis mechanics core skills in areas such as safety, tires, brakes, electrical, frames and the FMCSA inspection process. 

Offering a comprehensive, structured program, IMTI equips new hires with the knowledge and skills needed to perform intermodal repair tasks safely and efficiently.  Using a combination of classroom training, hand-on experiences, e-learning, how to videos, electronic flashcards and other learning aids, IMTI provides its students with an immediate head start on the job site.

In order to graduate the program, students must pass both written and practical demonstration exams.  In addition to the IMTI proprietary curriculum, students also obtain Tire Industry Association certification, IMTI developed training and testing on ATA TMC Recommended Practices for both Wheel End and Brake repair, removal, installation and maintenance (including TMC RP 607-609, 618, 622 and 631).  Likewise, IMTI has partnered in content development and testing with industry leaders Stemco, Truck-Lite and Lite-Check, as well as others,  for verification of mechanic equipment repair qualifications.
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Beyond entry level mechanic programs, IMTI also offers intermodal operators continuing education and custom training, including onsite and on-demand e-learning, perfect for a wide variety of on-terminal equipment use & repair processes.
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IMTI is a women-owned and controlled business.

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