Follow Us
Subscribe
TRENDING

Tag: Newsletter 2nd Article

  • Arkansas college’s diesel tech program receives $60,000 grant

    Arkansas college’s diesel tech program receives $60,000 grant

    The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently announced three workforce development grants totaling $456,000 that were all awarded to University of Arkansas System two-year institutions.

    One of ARDOT’s Transportation-Related Research and Workforce Development Program’s annual grants the University of Arkansas – East Arkansas Community College (UA-EACC), which received $60,000. UA-EACC Chancellor Cathie Cline, Ed.D. said the grant funding will help continued development of one of the college’s diesel technology programs.

    “We’re thankful for any additional funding we can put toward our mission of assisting local business and industry and in helping to develop the workforce in our region,” Cline said. “UA-EACC’s diesel technology program has been recognized as  one of the best in the nation, and investing in industry-standard equipment enhances our effort to continue to offer best-in-class training opportunities for students, and ultimately providing them a pathway to attaining or enhancing their careers.”

    According to ARDOT, the purpose of the annual grant program is to help support the study of materials and sources to provide resilient and sustainable logistics, processes, materials, and methods to ensure cost-effectiveness and the furtherance of education and economic development in transportation. The grant program also supports industry training, apprenticeship, and educational programs for transportation-related personnel development.

    “The emphasis our regional two-year colleges place on meeting their communities’ educational and workforce needs is truly inspiring,” said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. “Any additional funding realized through these ARDOT workforce development grants is reinvested right back into Arkansas communities through highly effective programming that’s already working to shore up more opportunities for Arkansans to thrive in the workforce.”

  • TechForce & NTHS announce 2 scholarship winners

    TechForce & NTHS announce 2 scholarship winners

    Two leading skilled trade nonprofits — TechForce Foundation and National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) — recently announced the first recipients of a joint scholarship.

    Nicholas Sinotte (Lakes Region Community College) and Dylan Powell (Itawamba Community College) each received $2,500 toward their technical education. This collaboration provides students with resources and critical scholarship support to excel in their technical education and successfully transition to the skilled technician workforce.

    Both scholarship recipients started trade school this fall, are National Technical Honor Society members, and actively participate in the TechForce Network. Their involvement and passion for technical education helped them stand out amongst their peers, according to a statement from the two organizations.

    “I am working toward a college degree and certifications in both automotive and marine technology,” said Sinotte. “My family’s finances are limited …this scholarship provides critical support as I work toward that goal. This scholarship brings me one step closer to that future, and I am truly grateful.”

    Powell has taken classes or worked in construction, painting, and welding, and interned with an electrical engineer.

    “The most fun of these was definitely manufacturing,” said Powell. “When it came time to pick a career pathway, industrial maintenance is the only thing I felt I would enjoy. I am excited for the hands-on work and challenging, new skills I will learn!”

    The scholarship, funded by NTHS and administered by TechForce, was created in May in celebration of the partnership between the two organizations. NTHS and TechForce are connecting students to combined educational resources including training content, scholarships and grants, industry connections, and career opportunities. More information is available at NTHS.org/TechForce/.

    “Students like Dylan and Nicholas see the opportunities in a technician career, and we are proud to help them achieve their goals,” said Jennifer Maher, TechForce Foundation CEO. “TechForce Foundation is solving the disconnect between emerging talent and industry needs, starting with technicians. Our nonprofit-to-nonprofit partnership with NTHS brings us closer to realizing that vision. Together we are connecting more students than ever to the TechForce™ workforce platform, designed to connect industry and education in real, measurable ways.”

    Peyton Holland, NTHS Executive Director said, “At NTHS, we’re proud to recognize the brilliantly skilled students in Career & Technical Education who are building not only their own futures but the foundation of our workforce and communities. Partnering with TechForce Foundation allows us to celebrate and support outstanding students like Dylan and Nicholas, who are pursuing challenging, high-demand careers with passion and purpose. Together, we’re elevating the profile of technical education and expanding opportunities for CTE students nationwide.”

  • Harbor Freight hands out $1.5 million in awards to skilled trades instructors

    Harbor Freight hands out $1.5 million in awards to skilled trades instructors

    A major tool retailer recently honored 30 skilled trades instructors from schools around the country with cash prizes to their schools and themselves.

    Harbor Freight, through its Tools For Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, handed out a total of $1.5 million in cash prizes to schools and teachers in 18 states.

    The grand prize winners include:

    • Jerry Agan, Agricultural Mechanics, Elizabethton High School, Tennessee
    • Michael Driscoll, Industrial Technology, Bay View High School, Wisconsin
    • Benjamin Peters, Industrial Technology, Nekoosa High School, Wisconsin
    • Hugh Roberts, Carpentry, Cabell County Career Technology Center, West Virginia
    • Terrell Taylor, Construction, Merrillville High School, Indiana

    Each prize is $100,000, which includes $70,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $30,000 for the teacher.

    Also, 25 other prize winner awards include a total of $50,000. Of that amount, $35,000 goes to the school’s skilled trades program and instructor receives $15,000.

    The prize, now in its ninth year, was created to recognize excellence among high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators who Harbor Freight said are frequently overlooked and underappreciated. As of today, over $10 million has been awarded to more than 180 teachers and their programs through the prize.

    “Through a rigorous application process, our prizewinners shared their unique depth of experience and skill for teaching the skilled trades,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

    This year there are winners are from Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. A full list of winners is here.

    The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools.

    This year there were more than 1,000 applications for the prize. The application process included three rounds of judging, each by an independent panel of experts from education, industry, nonprofits, and philanthropy.

  • President & CEO says Ford needs technicians … lots of them

    President & CEO says Ford needs technicians … lots of them

    Looking for a technician position? Consider applying at a Ford dealership. They have lots of openings.

    During the opening of a high-profile gathering late last month in Detroit, Ford Motor’s President and CEO Jim Farley told an audience of business leaders that his company’s dealerships are in need of 6,000 professional technicians.

    Farley, speaking at Ford’s Pro Accelerate: The Essential Economy, said his company is no exception. In fact, the gathering of 300 business leaders was called to focus on the workforce shortages within this country’s Essential Economy, which includes manufacturing, utilities, construction, and transportation, and relies on 96 million skilled tradesmen and women.

    “This summit addresses a fundamental challenge to America’s prosperity: a growing productivity divide that holds back the very people who build, move, and fix our country,” said Farley. “At Ford, we believe honoring these essential workers means equipping them to win. This is a call to action for business, technology, and government to break down the barriers of bureaucracy and underinvestment.”

    He added, “If anything comes out of this today, it’s this: we need to figure out how to invest in the people who build things.”

    Ford said in a statement about the summit that it’s leading through its Ford Essential Workforce Initiative. This includes programs like the UAW-Ford Joint Apprentice Program; nationwide auto tech recruiting and training partnerships; and Ford Pro services that make customers more productive, including a new collaboration with ServiceTitan.

    During the summit, Ford Philanthropy announced new workforce development investments totaling over $5 million for 2025-2026, projected to benefit more than 100,000 students and educators through:

    • 15 Ford Future Builders Labs in Michigan and Tennessee to bring hands-on learning to K-12 students
    • A new partnership with SkillsUSA to expand advanced manufacturing and automotive programs for high school students
    • The creation of the Ford Philanthropy Advanced Manufacturing & Trades Scholarship to cover training, tools, and expenses for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades
    • The expansion of Ford’s Auto Tech Scholarship with TechForce Foundation, which has already provided $7 million in financial support to 1,400 students since 2023

    As part of these efforts, Ford is also exploring with Bloomberg Philanthropies how to expand its innovative model for career-focused high schools to the skilled trades.

  • Diesel aftertreatment webinar planned

    Diesel aftertreatment webinar planned

    The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) will hold free webinar titled Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Diesel Aftertreatment Systems.

    The webinar will be delivered by Automotive Video Innovations Tuesday Oct 7, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. Sign up here.

    The free session will, as ASE says, “take the mystery out of exhaust aftertreatment systems.”

    The session covers: NOx, EGR valves and coolers, temperature and pressure sensors, hydrocarbon doser, DEF fluid doser, NOx sensor, DOC, DPF, SCR, CAC, VGT, DEF quality, tank manifold, heater lines, and more.

    The seminar is meant to tie all of the components together with hands-on, real-world tests and diagnosis.

    Topics include:

    • Turbo Overview and Diagnostics
    • DPF System
    • NOx Sensors
    • DEF Storage and Pump »Fuel Condition

    Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance about a week afterthis live session.

    Not sure you can attend? Register anyway to receive a follow-up email with details on how to attend a recorded session.

  • National Technician Appreciation Week has arrived

    National Technician Appreciation Week has arrived

    National Technician Appreciation Week is under way!

    To recognize the outstanding professional technicians that keep the trucking industry rolling, the American Trucking Associations in a conjoined effort with ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) created the event which runs through Saturday.

    The celebration of technicians comes after last week’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

    The purpose of the week is to provide an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and commitment of the professional technicians of the trucking industry. Across America, professional technicians play one of the most demanding and important roles in trucking. This week will not only acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of these dedicated professionals, but also help attract prospective talent to one of the most in-demand careers in the trucking industry.

    Professional technicians are the people that keep trucks moving. To recognize these important men and women, NTAW highlights one of the most demanding and challenging roles in the transportation industry. NTAW will provide an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and commitment of professional technicians. Professional technicians perform one of the most demanding and critical roles in trucking. Considering things like uptime, fuel economy and overall vehicle performance, maintenance technicians are a vital part of a fleet’s overall safety. This week will not only acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of these dedicated professionals, but also help attract prospective talent to one of the most in-demand careers in the industry.

  • 3-way partnership aims to attract and retain professional technicians

    3-way partnership aims to attract and retain professional technicians

    The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and WrenchWay have formed a collaborative partnership to address the critical for professional technicians.

    The new partnership is focused on attracting and retaining talent by providing the resources and support needed for automotive service professionals to grow and succeed. The plan centers on three initiatives designed to support current and future talent.

    According to a statement from the parnership members, firstly, the plan will address what they claim is the common misconceptions about the industry and showcase the array of rewarding, high-opportunity career paths available by engaging students, parents and educators with web, social and print media advertising. ASE, CREF, I-CAR and WrenchWay will collaboratively syndicate all media content targeting future technicians through paid and owned channels.

    A second area of focus will be to provide accessible and affordable entry-level education solutions that drive skill development, support the mentor/mentee relationship and lead to numerous industry recognized credentials, the partners said. The partnership will also strengthen career technical education schools through scholarships, donations and certifications.

    Finally, the organizations will work to keep talent in the industry by equipping new technicians with the tools and mentorship they need to succeed, while supporting employers in creating a learning culture rooted in skill development, safety, and career advancement – a framework central to each of the organization’s training philosophy.

    “Working closely with our colleagues at I-CAR, CREF and WrenchWay, we began a powerful collaboration to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: attracting and preparing the next generation of automotive service professionals,” said Dave Johnson, ASE president and CEO. “We are committed to a shared goal of building the widest pathway to attract new talent and advance the collision repair field together.”

    Key initiatives are already underway, including a curriculum designed for shops or schools, supporting their ability to educate entry-level technicians with the knowledge and skills required to perform modern-day collision repair, which is aligned with ASE credentials and Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship requirements. WrenchWay School Assist and Technician Pay Tool, alongside CREF Donation Exchange platform, help to provide schools with access to information, equipment and resources through direct connections to local and industry organizations.

    “This partnership aligns perfectly with CREF’s mission to support collision repair educational programs, students and schools,” said Brandon Eckenrode, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). “By combining our resources and industry connections, we can help ensure schools have the tools, equipment and support needed to attract students and prepare them for fulfilling, lifelong careers.”

    “At WrenchWay, we’re focused on building stronger connections between schools, students and employers,” said Jay Goninen, president and co-founder of WrenchWay. “Collaborating with ASE, I-CAR and CREF allows us to expand those connections and help more students see the incredible opportunities available in today’s modern, technology-driven shops.”

    “This partnership expands the work I-CAR has championed through initiatives like the Collision Careers web and social platforms and I-CAR Academy, ensuring that employers, students and schools have clear, structured and affordable entry points into high-demand collision repair careers,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR’s VP of Planning & Industry Talent Programming.

  • Over 90,00 Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled for power loss

    Over 90,00 Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled for power loss

    Chrysler recently anniunced it is recalling 91,787 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Plug-In Hybrid electric vehicles because a software error in the hybrid control processor may result in a loss of drive power.

    The remedy is under development, according to the company.

    Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on Oct. 23.

    Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is 73C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginningThursday.

  • Pete Store opens first North Carolina location; has 12 service bays

    Pete Store opens first North Carolina location; has 12 service bays

    The Pete Store, one of the largest Peterbilt dealer groups in North America, has opened a new location in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Located at 223 Amboy Rd., the 30,000-square-foot facility on a five-acre site marks the company’s first North Carolina location. It offers preventive maintenance, warranty repair, advanced diagnostics, and mobile service, supported by a comprehensive all-makes parts inventory. The new location has 12 service bays.

    “We are excited to bring The Pete Store experience to Western North Carolina,” said Greg Arscott, president of The Pete Store. “This region is home to a large and growing base of Peterbilt customers, and this investment allows us to deliver the award-winning support they deserve closer to where they operate.”

    The new location is expected to create at least 30 jobs as the company hires technicians, parts professionals, and support staff this fall, according to a statement from the company.

    The Pete Store now operates 31 locations across the eastern United States.

    Founded in 2001, The Pete Store provides sales of new and pre-owned trucks, all-makes parts, service, mobile service, body shops, financing, leasing, and rental of Peterbilt trucks.

  • Top Texas Technicians recognized

    Top Texas Technicians recognized

    The Texas Trucking Association recently recognized competitors in its annual skills contest for technicians.

    The TXTA’s 2025 Technician of the Year Top 5 include:

    1st Place – Corey Tegeler, Old Dominion Freight Lines 
    2nd Place – Chris Gerrald, First Mile LLC 
    3rd Place – Brandon McNeill, Old Dominion Freight Lines 
    4th Place – Mohammad Algaghbeir, Travel Centers of America 
    5th Place – Christopher Cooper, Travel Centers of America

    The contest is sponsored by Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies and Yokohama Tire. 

    The TXTA Technician of the Year Contest, founded in 1982, honors skilled heavy vehicle mechanics. Competitors are tested on technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities in a hands-on format, highlighting the critical role technicians play in the safety and reliability of commercial fleets.