Skip to main content

Diesel Tech Education Touted on Fox 13's The Place


Things have changed in the diesel world. Diesel service shops are now clean, filled with technology and highly skilled people who have to know as much (if not more) about computers as they do traditional mechanical things. Diesel trucks today have an average of 17 computers in them. Along with learning the mechanics, students learn many computer-based systems and information technology.

Nate Ferrara, a diesel service technician with Salt Lake Community College's School of Applied Technology, appeared on Fox 13's The Place to talk about job growth in the diesel industry and what role SLCC plays in training diesel technicians.

By 2022, it is expected that 67,000 Baby Boomers will retire from the diesel tech profession. There are currently more than 2,800 job postings in Utah for technicians, which is above the national average. SLCC has several tracks to choose from for diesel technology:

  • Diesel Service Technician (8-9 months)
  • Diesel Service Technician and Driver (8-9 months)
  • Diesel Systems Technology (8-9 months)
  • Diesel Systems Technology, Associate of Applied Science (2-year degree)
The first three certificate programs start every Monday and the program is competency-based, so students can go through their program at an accelerated pace. As an example, the service technician certificate takes 750 hours, it can be done in 8 to 9 months. Tuition is $2.31 per clock hour. A student will pay about $2,300 for the whole program and start out earning a highly competitive income.


The current median wage for Diesel Technician is $22.15. That makes the average starting annual wage around $46,000/year. The high demand for these skilled technicians has forced employers to become more creative in their recruitment tactics. They are offering higher starting wages, tuition reimbursements, signing bonuses and asking new employees a “bounty” to recruit their classmates and colleagues.

The SLCC Westpointe Workforce Training & Education Center officially opens to students on August 22. This 122,000-square foot facility that will house professional truck driving, diesel, solar, welding, plastics, composites, machining, engineering drafting and design programs. Westpointe is designed to get people ready with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to give employers what they need right now.





Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency.  “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment.  Andrew’s work has alwa...
Post a Comment
Read more

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002).     Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.     "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...
Post a Comment
Read more