The RTA system contains hundreds of pre-defined Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standard codes. The VMRS codes, sometimes referred to as job codes, contain descriptions and estimated hours for repairs and services performed in the shop. VMRS codes are required when adding work order lines, vehicle warranties, and part warranties. They also play a big part in tracking mechanic productivity--the estimated hours are compared to the actual completion times.
It's not necessary to do anything with the existing VMRS codes before using the RTA system, especially if you won't be tracking mechanic productivity initially. However, you might need to add or modify VMRS codes from time to time when codes for particular jobs you do don't exist. We suggest adding and revising codes as needed rather than reviewing and adding all the codes initially. Be sure to organize newly added VMRS codes in the same manner as described below. This assures consistency in the coding system, thus allowing jobs to be easily located. If you don't want to use the existing VMRS codes and want to devise an entirely new set of codes, contact our technical support department for assistance in deleting all the existing codes in one, easy step.
The VMRS code may contain up to nine digits consisting of a three-digit major code, three-digit intermediate code, and three-digit minor code (e.g., 013-004-000). The major code is used to indicate the area of the vehicle where the work is performed. For example, code 013 deals with brakes, 017 deals with tires, 032 deals with the cranking system. The intermediate code indicates the area of the job to be performed (front brake pads, rear brake shoes, etc.); these are listed alphabetically. The minor code allows even more detail about the job, in many cases, pin-pointing the specific part or area that needs attention.
The RTA system has a switch allowing you to use a three-, six-, or nine-digit VMRS code (SSM, switch 38). We recommend using a six-digit VMRS coding system because it's easy to use and provides the needed detail for tracking history. A three-digit VMRS coding system is very easy to use but tends to be too generic, not providing enough detail. For example, when viewing vehicle history, you might see that several brake jobs were performed; however, there's no detail indicating the complexity or severity of each job. On the other hand, a nine-digit VMRS coding system provides the best level of detail, but tends to be too cumbersome to be used effectively.
NOTE: VMRS codes from the American Trucking Association (ATA) are available upon request. If you prefer to use the ATA VMRS codes instead of the codes provided with your RTA system, please call RTA at 623-581-2447. We highly recommend that you decide upon which set of VMRS codes to use prior to entering work orders in RTA. Switching VMRS codes afterwards is quite labor intensive.
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