The demand for skilled diesel technicians is rapidly increasing, yet finding and retaining these professionals remains a significant challenge for the transportation industry. Love’s Truck Care and Speedco, recognizing this growing need, has taken a proactive approach to ensure they have a robust workforce of qualified technicians now and in the years to come. Their innovative strategies focus on nurturing talent from the ground up, providing comprehensive training and fostering a supportive career environment.
Addressing the Diesel Technician Shortage Head-On with Love’s Truck Care Academy
Love’s Truck Care and Speedco understands that investing in training is crucial to overcoming the technician shortage. This is why they established the Love’s Truck Care Academy, a pioneering five-week program designed to equip aspiring technicians with the essential skills for a successful career. These academies, located in Amarillo, Texas, and El Reno, Oklahoma, offer a unique blend of hands-on experience and classroom learning, all at no cost to the students. This tuition-free model removes financial barriers, making a career in diesel technology accessible to individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend traditional trade schools.
Keven Avalos, a graduate from the 2022 class now working at a Speedco in Arizona, exemplifies the academy’s impact. He stated, “I have always wanted a career in truck maintenance and repair, but going to technical school was out of the question because of the price. It was exciting to find out Love’s would cover the cost of my training.” The academy not only provides valuable skills but also fosters camaraderie among students, preparing them to become valuable assets to their teams and provide exceptional service to customers.
Graduates of the Love’s Truck Care Academy are asked to commit to a two-year employment agreement with Love’s, ensuring a return on the company’s investment in their education and providing a stable career path for the newly trained technicians. Since its inception in April 2022, the program has successfully trained 300 technicians, with plans to train an additional 600 by the end of 2024. To meet this ambitious goal, Love’s is expanding its academy footprint, with one new facility opening this year and two more planned for 2024.
The curriculum at Love’s Truck Care Academy is delivered by full-time Love’s employees who are experienced instructors. The training emphasizes critical areas such as diagnostics, troubleshooting, and repair, covering 11 key subjects:
- Information sourcing
- Preventive maintenance
- Department of Transportation inspections
- Wheel ends and brakes
- Air Systems
- Electrical HVAC
- Noregon JPRO diagnostics software
- Navistar systems
- Daimler Truck North America systems
- Welding
- Torching
Recognizing that proper tools are essential for technicians to perform their jobs effectively, Love’s provides each graduate with a toolbox and a comprehensive tool set valued at $3,500 upon graduation. These tools become the technician’s to keep after one year of service with Love’s. Furthermore, technicians have the opportunity to earn a $1,200 credit with Matco Tools by achieving annual incentive levels, allowing them to further expand their tool collection and capabilities.
Gary Price, EVP at Love’s, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “We know technicians need the proper tools to perform the work that we have trained them for, and tools can be extremely expensive. By providing the graduates with the correct equipment, we ensure they can properly take care of our professional driver customers and get them back on the road quickly and safely.”
Apprenticeship Programs and Opportunities for Experienced Technicians at Love’s Truck Care
Beyond the academy, Love’s Truck Care also offers apprenticeship programs, providing another avenue for individuals to enter the diesel technician field. These programs allow apprentices to earn while they learn, with wages ranging from $22 to $27 per hour during the six- to nine-month training period. Apprentices also receive the same valuable tool set after one year of employment, further solidifying Love’s commitment to equipping their technicians for success.
For experienced technicians, Love’s Truck Care provides opportunities for immediate employment at a Level 5 technician level. These experienced professionals can bypass the training programs by successfully completing a qualification assessment and testing conducted by ASE Master trainers, recognizing and rewarding their existing expertise.
Promising Early Results and Continued Investment in Love’s Truck Care Technicians
While it is still early to fully assess the long-term retention rates of technicians trained through these programs, initial feedback is positive. Derrick Kee, a diesel technician student from Hinton, Oklahoma, shared his experience, “Working for Love’s has been great. They’ve helped me out so much…allowing me to provide for myself and my family.” These testimonials and the continued expansion of training facilities demonstrate Love’s Truck Care’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting a skilled workforce.
Love’s Truck Care and Speedco’s proactive approach to technician recruitment and training exemplifies a significant investment in the future of diesel service. By providing accessible, high-quality training, valuable tools, and promising career paths, Love’s is not only addressing the technician shortage but also building a strong and dedicated team to serve the needs of professional drivers and the transportation industry for years to come. Through initiatives like the Truck Care Academy and apprenticeship programs, Love’s Truck Care is solidifying its position as a leader in truck maintenance and a champion for the growth and development of diesel technicians.
