In the world of trucking, the spotlight often shines on the drivers, however, there is an unsung group of professionals who keep the wheels turning in this vital industry. Skilled diesel technicians are the lifeline of the supply chain, ensuring that those big rigs keep rolling and swiftly resolving any unexpected challenges they encounter.
Just as there are specialized training programs for aspiring drivers, aspiring diesel technicians have a variety of options to kickstart their careers. Local community colleges and technical schools offer comprehensive programs to provide the necessary skills and knowledge. Additionally, high school trade programs often collaborate with local businesses that rely on mechanics and technicians, often leading to valuable apprenticeship opportunities.
But what about those high school students and recent graduates who haven’t yet discovered their true career path?
Love’s Travel Stops now proudly offers a new opportunity for ambitious individuals looking to launch their career in the fast lane or make a fresh start.
The Love’s Truck Care Academy is a unique program developed in collaboration with Speedco that is helping aspiring technicians get the training they need to fast track their careers.
Since its opening in April 2022, Love’s Truck Care Academy has made waves in the field. Executive Vice President Gary Price proudly shares that this program, the first of its kind, has already produced an impressive 300 graduates – a testament to its success.
Enrolled students benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that blends classroom learning with hands-on experience in seven key heavy-duty truck systems. Upon completion, graduates enter the workforce equipped with a state-of-the-art tool set valued at $3,500.
Currently, Love’s Truck Care Academy operates training centers in Amarillo, Texas, and El Reno, Oklahoma and has plans to expand its reach by opening two more facilities in Arizona and Indiana. With this expansion, Love’s aims to double the number of graduates from its diesel technician program in the coming year.
“We have the largest over-the-road workforce of diesel technicians and mechanics, and we want to help them realize their career goals,” Price said. “This truly is the application of the American Dream.”
Love’s Truck Care Academy provided Keven Avalos with the essential training he needed to kickstart his career in Tolleson, Arizona. Hear firsthand why he believes it was the best choice for him to pursue his passion in the industry.
“In school, I was always getting in trouble because I had to be working on something with my hands,” Avalos said. “I also knew what it was like not having transportation because of mechanical issues.”
Avalos was inspired by his uncle’s work on cars and wanted to use his skills to help people solve mechanical problems. He was particularly drawn to the profession because he knew there were many truck drivers on the road who needed affordable mechanical services. He wanted to offer reliable and fair-priced services to those who had been overcharged by other providers.
“My plan right after high school was to go to a technical institute,” Avalos said. “It’s a trade school for all types of mechanical classes.”
Avalos faced a dilemma – trade schools were more affordable than traditional colleges, but his family couldn’t afford to send him. Luckily, Avalos’ sister, a Love’s employee, informed him about the program.
“You should look into working with Love’s,” she told her brother. “They teach you the mechanical training and how to change tires, oil changes and other jobs.”
Avalos’ future was solidified during that conversation, and now he takes great pride in his work for Love’s.
“(Drivers) come to our shop, we do the repairs for a fair price and they get back on the road, get home to their families and get back to making money,” he said. “But my favorite part of the job is meeting new people and new drivers every day. It’s great to go home knowing I helped someone. I made someone’s day better.”
Avalos credits Love’s program for paving the way to a bright future.
“It helped me so much,” he said. “I was really motivated to catch on quickly. I knew it would be going to school for four weeks, six days a week. I had to get on my horse and ‘go, go, go’. I still have a long way to go, but I’ve learned to be a better mechanic, and I want to take advantage of all the opportunities Love’s has given me.”
Source: The Trucker
