The first class from the new Peterbilt Technician Institute has graduated, the company announced.
The class of 10 students represented six dealer groups. All 10 graduated and will now begin careers with Peterbilt dealerships around the country.
“Congratulations to each graduate of the first ever Peterbilt Technician Institute and welcome to the Peterbilt team,” said Darrin Siver, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar vice president, who spoke to the graduating class. “These graduates are now equipped to not only service Peterbilt vehicles and Paccar engines, but to embrace the standards of customer satisfaction, professionalism and operational efficiencies that make Peterbilt and its dealer network leaders in complete customer care.”
All graduates received a certificate of completion from the Peterbilt Technician Institute as well as 10 other Peterbilt training certificates, including the Paccar MX-13 engine training certification.
The 12-week program, held in conjunction with Universal Technical Institute at the school’s Dallas/Fort Worth campus, featured classroom and hands-on instruction of total vehicle diagnostics, maintenance and repairs, as well as essential education in customer service, dealership shop operations and laws and regulations. Course work was also conducted at Peterbilt’s Denton (Texas) training center and manufacturing facility and a PacLease service facility in Dallas.
The Peterbilt Technician Institute is planned to expand to other locations nationwide. It is part of UTI’s Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training (MSAT).
“This is a proven, innovative way to address the industry shortage of truck technicians and to provide our dealerships with trained, qualified service professionals who are ready to work,” says Peyton Harrell, Peterbilt’s director of dealer development. “Our entire network of 270-plus dealerships throughout North America is excited about the Peterbilt Technician Institute and as the program expands, we anticipate every dealership to sponsor students for PTI. Graduates are offered employment with a Peterbilt dealership and this will help maintain our tradition of staffing the industry’s most highly trained and capable technicians available. Our customers expect the best service experience possible and this program will help Peterbilt and its dealers surpass those expectations.”
