Technician programs abound

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Whether you’re looking for a two-year technician’s program at your local college, a four-year university bachelor’s degree, or specialist certification through product manufacturers, education programs for prospective service truck mechanics and technicians abound across the U.S.

With the fall semester getting underway, Service Truck Magazine checked in with representatives some of the many programs available.

In Iowa Falls, Iowa, Ellsworth Community College offers a two-year mobile service technician program. Part of the Iowa Valley Community College system, Ellsworth is in the heart of the Midwest farming belt, and the program reflects that, falling within the college’s agriculture-related studies and delving into the inner workings of heavy equipment the region’s food producers rely upon.

Instructor Kevin Butt says the program was inspired in part by a local equipment dealership that was finding it tough to find skilled service technicians able to make house calls.

“There was a huge need out here for something like this,” Butt said, noting that many college diesel programs focus on engines, transmissions and various power-related components, with less attention paid to issues such as error codes on tractors or the many things that can go wrong with sprayers. “That led to us doing some research, finding there’s nothing out there, and then starting this program.”

Teaching problem-solving

Instructors can’t possibly teach students to fix every single problem or even anticipate every potential situation they might encounter. Rather, Butt says, the goal is to teach students how equipment works and to equip them with problem-solving logic so they can quickly get customers back up and running.

For now, the program is among the smallest of its kind — just five students in each of the two years — and focused exclusively on agriculture. It’s a relatively new offering, Butt explains. However, he says he envisions up to 30 students and perhaps a second instructor down the road.

While Ellsworth’s program is decidedly applied and hands-on, Montana State University-Northern in Havre, Montana has a range of diesel-focused offerings, including a one-year Certificate of Applied Science, a two-year Associate of Applied Science, and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Diesel Technology, all through MSU-N’s College of Technical Sciences (COTS).

While diesel-related courses at MSU-N are designed with applied learners in mind, students partake in decidedly hands-on lab-type work as well as lectures in subject areas such as math, science and engineering.

A course on fuels and lubricants, for instance, explores the chemistry of various fuels and fits in with learning to diagnose fuel system problems.

“It ties in directly with the four-year diesel and also counts as a required science for general education,” explains Steven Don, COTS chair and a professor of diesel technology.

A “full university”

“We have hands-on classes but they’re a lot more advanced,” Don says, describing an advanced fuel systems at the 400 (fourth year) level and advanced hydraulics and advanced electrical systems at the 300 (third year) level. Students can also take courses in essay writing, humanities and arts. “It’s a full university,” Don says.

The beauty of a university-level technical education is the emphasis on critical thinking and diagnostic skills. The idea, Don says, is not to simply accept conventional wisdom and replace a costly part but to teach students to determine, for example, why a filter unit is plugging up or failing.

“Rather than sitting inside the box and changing parts, they learn to think outside the box and look at root causes,” Don says. “The diagnostic and critical thinking skills really set our four-year students apart from the two-year program.”

Local colleges and universities aren’t the only game in town for prospective diesel students. Universal Technical Institute (UTI) runs automotive and diesel mechanic training programs at 11 of its 13 U.S. campuses.

“They’re year-round programs ranging from 45 to 75 weeks,” explains Duane Kramer, vice-president of new campus operations and education programs at UTI.

One differentiator from a college program is that programs in the two streams at UTI start every three weeks and graduations stagger accordingly. “People can hop right into the cycle at any time,” Kramer says.

A 17-course automotive diesel program begins with educational basics and theory and delves into practical application, with students using training aids and working on actual vehicles. “It covers everything from engines and powertrains to diagnostics and electrical fundamentals,” Kramer says, describing topics such as braking, steering, suspension systems and manual and automatic transmissions.

Preventative maintenance focus

A 25-course diesel program, meanwhile, includes drive trains, brakes, engines and accessories. “Preventive maintenance is critical so we focus on that,” Kramer says. “We also have a couple of additional, related programs for diesel, including transport refrigeration and hydraulic.”

UTI currently has courses with hybrid technology and alternative fuels, but is holding off for now on advanced electrification. “We’re working with our industry partners to determine if we should add additional courses that would prepare students for that,” Kramer says. “But industry is saying entry-level technicians are not necessarily working on those kinds of vehicles right away, so they want us to focus on the principles and theory behind electrification and preventative maintenance.”

Heavy equipment manufacturers are also getting involved. For more than two decades, Caterpillar has engaged its network of dealers, as well as post-secondary educational institutions, in ThinkBIG Development, a two-year educational partnership focused on developing advanced level technicians.

Kelley Maxwell, global learning consultant with Caterpillar, describes a focus on machine systems, electric power systems, system operations and troubleshooting. Students in 18 separate programs follow technical curricula developed by Caterpillar and participate in internships, all aligned to Caterpillar’s global technician competency models, with a view to developing advanced skill sets and working towards accredited associate’s degrees from its educational partners. “We want our students to be able to transfer to a university program, if desired, to continue their education at a bachelor’s degree level,” Maxwell says.

In-house Cat programs

Caterpillar has also pursued multiple educational pathways for students interested in careers as technicians in areas such as a heavy equipment and power systems. Caterpillar and its dealers offer in-house “train to task” programs which last 12 weeks to over three years and are designed to provide foundational and advanced level training focusing on topics such as basic component identification and system operations, use of hand tools, assembly and disassembly procedures, an introduction to service information systems, and safety.

Apprenticeship programs build on these competencies and introduce students to more advanced functions that veer into applied-level systems integration, troubleshooting, failure analysis and customer interaction skills. Caterpillar even works with dealers to teach technicians how to support vocational truck and legacy truck engine customers.

“The goal of any of these programs is to develop valued and appropriate level of competencies that enable our Cat dealer technicians to deliver the best services in our industry,” Maxwell says.

Despite different approaches to education, there’s a general consensus that skilled technicians are in strong demand right now. They own the market.

High demand

“We can’t supply enough technicians to meet the demand,” says UTI’s Duane Kramer. “It’s very

competitive out there…and people are trying to figure out ways to attract and retain good talent.”

Kramer does recommend students figure out as early as they possibly can what they want to do, what their aptitudes and passions are, and then get a solid education that equips them with the skills to do what they want.

Steven Don expresses much the same. “Within our industry there’s just so many opportunities that they (graduates) can head where they want,” he says. Recent MSU-N diesel graduates are employed as technicians, service managers, equipment managers, fleet managers, contract managers and salespeople.

“I’ve seen national data for the trades industry … that for every five that are leaving through attrition or retirement there’s only one coming in at the other end,” Don says. “Most of our students will have at least three to four job offers on the table before they graduate.”

Ellsworth’s Kevin Butt says students attracted to his program tend to have a knack — and sometimes practical experience from family farms — for working with their hands. He wants high school guidance counsellors to emphasize skilled trades as viable, lucrative career options for students who would thrive in an applied environment.

At Caterpillar, Kelley Maxwell sees continued strong demand for technical training. “Skills sets have been and will continue to evolve as new technologies are developed to enable our customers’ success,” he says.

“Technicians who can understand system operations and interactions and can apply troubleshooting processes and learn to quickly locate and interpret information will be successful,” Maxwell says. “Technicians also need to understand the importance of communication. Whether that is with their peers, their leaders or their customers, communication and teamwork skills are a must.”

— Saul Chernos

Saul Chernos is a freelance writer based in Toronto.