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Students at Universal Technical Institute’s (UTI) Avondale, Arizona, campus have a welcomed addition to the Diesel Tech program: a state-of-the-art Penske sleeper.

The truck will give diesel technician students a real-world, hands-on experience working on a truck that had at one time been among Penske’s more than 323,000-truck fleet.

School officials say the unit has caused quite a buzz among students in the diesel program since the truck’s arrival to the campus located outside Phoenix. Avondale is the largest campus in the UTI footprint.

“We can’t thank the Penske team enough for the support. This truck will be a shining light in the Diesel program,” said John Dodson, vice president of business alliance and NASCAR for UTI.

“Now future technicians can connect with your brand and see the quality of the product that they can hopefully maintain and service as a UTI grad and future Penske technician,” Dodson said.

Driving the Next Generation of Technicians

From its humble beginnings in 1965 with just 11 students, UTI has grown to become a leader in automotive and diesel education, operating 13 campuses across the U.S. and graduating more than 200,000 students.

Despite the increased number of graduates, the transportation industry has been faced with a growing need for qualified diesel technicians and a shortage of applicants to fill them. The gap is only expected to widen.

“By 2026, we are looking at more than 1.2 million job openings in automotive, diesel and collision repair,” Dodson said, citing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. “There will be plenty of jobs, so we will need 120,000 technicians every year to fill those jobs, and we are falling short of that.”

Penske has joined with UTI in an effort to help develop the next generation of technicians.

That assistance has taken many shapes. Penske representatives have attended career events, given classroom presentations, provided input into the diesel curriculum and joined advisory boards.

Last year, UTI’s Bloomfield, New Jersey, campus opened a Penske-branded diesel lab, which introduced Penske as a potential future employer to students in the diesel technician program.

The campuses also provide a wealth of diesel technician talent.

“We have a long-standing partnership with UTI where we are engaged in actively hiring students as well as bringing real-world truck maintenance updates to the school,” said Ron Schwartz, vice president of staffing for Penske Truck Leasing.

The Avondale campus is located in close proximity to Penske’s Phoenix District. Since 2010, the company has hired about 300 students from the campus.

“Our relationship is not there just to hire from the schools,” Schwartz said. “We are also creating that partnership to make sure the school is focused on meaningful curriculum and that they have the necessary tools to effectively train the future technician workforce.”

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

UTI officials say Penske’s donation of the sleeper will not only be of benefit to the current class of diesel technician students but for future students as well.

“This is a gem. There is more than just the diesel part of that truck. It has this big double sleeper. It has all of the things that move cargo across the road,” Dodson said. “This truck encompasses everything we want to teach. It’s current. It’s up to date, so it keeps us up with industry standards.”

Penske’s willingness to provide such a quality unit to the students shows the company’s desire to invest in the next generation of diesel technicians.

“The Penske organization is always looking for the very top-shelf talent that UTI can provide. By donating this truck, Penske continues to set the bar for other companies to follow,” Dodson said. “We are very proud of our association with Penske, and our students are equally as proud. They recognize the industry support and the fantastic opportunities that Penske continues to provide.”

Ready to start your career with Penske? Visit Penske’s technician page to explore open positions. Penske offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits,and we are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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By Bernie Mixon

 
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Great pay, solid benefits and a flexible schedule are just some of the things Penske technicians enjoy when working for the industry leader.

However, one thing that carries just as much significance is the continuous training opportunities – a benefit that Megan Kitto, a Penske technician in Ontario, Canada, says was a determining factor in her choosing a career at Penske.

“The training we receive is important to me,” she said. “If you don’t get training, you won’t be able to increase your knowledge and take your career to new heights.”

An Itch for Learning

After buying her first vehicle, a ’93 pickup truck, Kitto (pictured below) knew there would come a time when she would have to make a few repairs and conduct routine maintenance on it, but there was one problem: she didn’t know how. Kitto looks to her uncle, an automotive service manager, as the person who encouraged her to pursue a technical career.

“I knew I needed to learn, and he helped me get started,” Kitto said.

When she joined Penske, Kitto came with two years of work experience. When asked what led her to where she is today, she says that at her last job, Penske was viewed as the next step in your career progression among many technicians.

“Everybody from my first shop makes Penske their next stop,” she said. “The top-notch training at Penske is what all of my co-workers would talk about. Before I came here, my friend told me the company offers so much training.”

The technology and training are what Kitto says have a huge impact on helping her have a rewarding career and leaving her proud of what she does. It’s no surprise this technician feels like she’s at the right place.

“The pride in knowing that you took something that was broken and needed repaired, you fixed it, and now it’s driving down the road; that’s what’s rewarding about what I do,” Kitto said. “My job would be more frustrating if I didn’t know what I was doing. The training at Penske prepares you to take on anything that may come your way.”

Connecting and Supporting Others

Kitto admires the inclusive and supportive work culture Penske offers to its employees. And in an effort to support others in the field, a few years ago, she created a personal social media group as a forum for female technicians to interact and share each other’s experiences. Currently, the group has more than 500 followers from all over the world (e.g., North America, Europe, Africa and Australia).

“The platform serves as a great place to ask questions and discuss different things we encounter while on the job,” said Kitto. “Everyone is supportive of each other and is always happy to offer career advice.”

Move Your Career Forward

Penske is always looking for qualified technicians to join the team. Learn more about career opportunities at Penske.

By Chris Abruzzo

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Penske Truck Leasing representatives will return to the 55th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY, June 24-28, 2019. The conference, a showcase of skilled trades, will bring together more than 19,000 students, teachers and business partners.

Penske is a regular at the conference and will showcase the company’s various career pathways from booth S117 in the exhibit hall. Attendees can stop by to meet company representatives and learn about the benefits of pursuing a career in diesel, as well as the many opportunities available to technicians at Penske. The company will also raffle off a number of items including an Apple iWatch, Apple AirPods, an Apple iPad Air and a Snap-on toolbox. For a chance to win, attendees must like or follow Penske on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and then post using the #Penske hashtag.

“We look forward to attending this event every year and 2019 is no different,” said Rick Labadie, a recruiting manager at Penske. “These students are the future of our industry and we appreciate the opportunity to interact with them and teach them about the industry and Penske. It also gives us a chance to meet with our current technical school partners and continue to build relationships with new ones.”

The SkillsUSA Championships will take place on Wednesday and Thursday during the conference. More than 6,500 career and technical education students will work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as automotive, diesel, electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts. Penske representatives will serve as judges during the exciting diesel technology hands-on competition.

Penske will also participate in SkillsUSA University, educational sessions on professional development, legislative updates, occupational and technical career trends and program overviews. Members of the Penske Technical Training Team - Willie Hoffman, Randy Fortenberry and Derrek Walker, will take part in the “Truck Fleet Maintenance Innovation and Technology” session where they will discuss Penske’s latest predictive maintenance diagnostic technology and Dynamic PM ® program.

“This is the premier event for SkillsUSA and it really showcases America’s Future Workforce,” explained Brad Taylor, district manager at Penske. “It is a tremendous opportunity for us to meet with thousands of parents, advisors, and students. The students that participate in these competitions truly are the best of the best.”

Penske is committed to supporting and promoting the skilled trades and also recently partnered with the TechForce Foundation, an organization that works to raise awareness with school-age students about great career opportunities as professional technicians.

Penske offers customer service representative and technician positions at more than 700 locations across North America. Visit the Penske technicians pagefor open positions. Penske offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits. Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

By "Move Ahead" Staff

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Penske Truck Leasing representatives will return to the 55th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY, June 24-28, 2019. The conference, a showcase of skilled trades, will bring together more than 19,000 students, teachers and business partners.

[Read more...]Show less

Throughout the month of May, in support of the TechForce Foundation's “Women Techs Rock" initiative, Penske Truck Leasing is spotlighting some of their own female technicians who are thriving in their roles and setting examples for future techs.

[Read more...]Show less

Throughout the month of May, in support of the TechForce Foundation's “Women Techs Rock" initiative, Penske Truck Leasing is spotlighting some of their own female technicians who are thriving in their roles and setting examples for future techs.

[Read more...]Show less

In support of the TechForce Foundation's “Women Techs Rock" initiative this month, Penske Truck Leasing is spotlighting some of their own technicians who are thriving in their roles and setting examples for future techs.

[Read more...]Show less

In support of the TechForce Foundation's “Women Techs Rock" initiative this month, Penske Truck Leasing is spotlighting some of their own technicians who are thriving in their roles and setting examples for future techs.

[Read more...]Show less

Penske Truck Leasing is a proud supporter of the TechForce Foundation, an organization with a mission to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians.

[Read more...]Show less