Todayβs commercial vehicles, like those offered by ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ Truck Leasing, are more connected than ever with computer technology monitoring everything from engine performance to fuel efficiency.
Far removed from their wrench-turning past, todayβs diesel technicians are required to be as comfortable with computer diagnostics as they are with engine components under the hood.
Present will meet future next week at the in Louisville, Kentucky, as more than 6,000 students are expected to compete in hands-on competitions in more than 100 trade, technical and leadership fields.
ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ representatives will be there too, serving as judges in the diesel competition and staffing a booth during the SkillsUSA TECHSPO in order to speak with students about technician career opportunities available at ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½.
It is a role that is expected to continue to grow, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that by 2022 the transportation industry will need to hire about 67,000 maintenance professionals.
For customer-centric companies like ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½, technicians play a crucial role in their success.
βOur business model as a company is that we provide newer vehicles to the customer and that means modern trucks for our technicians to triage and diagnose,β said Gregg Mangione, senior vice president of maintenance for ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½, in a . βOur technicians engage with the newest and leading-edge types of issues from a variety of truck manufacturers.β
The systems on todayβs trucks are entirely different than even 10 years ago,β Mangione said. βThere were 350 diagnostic fault codes on a truck manufactured in 2004. Now, there can be up to 2,000 fault codes coming off of a vehicle.
βIt is all about the customer,β Mangione said. βAs their key partner, our customersβ businesses are best supported when ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½-rented and -leased trucks are operating at maximum capacity. We need good men and women who want the satisfaction of fixing a truck and enjoy the challenges of being in this industry.β
SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives and serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.
The annual SkillUSA Championships β the centerpiece of the conference β will be held on June 21 and 22 and feature about 100 hands-on skill and leadership competitions. The event provides employers like ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ with an opportunity to witness the studentsβ expertise first-hand.
βFrom our standpoint, it establishes ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ as a brand name when reaching out to students. These students are the future of our business. SkillsUSA solidifies our presence as a national employer,β said Rick Labadie, a recruiting supervisor for ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½.
βWe attract top-talented individuals from participating schools. It is good for our organization that we create a network with our current technical school partners who are already there and build relationships with new schools,β Labadie added. βWe are able to meet decision makers and influencers from vocational and technical schools.β
ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ will be exhibiting at booth S58/60 and will hold social media drawings for prizes, including an Apple Watch Sport, an iPad or Snap-on toolbox. Social media users must like or follow ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and then post using the #ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ hashtag.
One new feature this year will be a vending machine filled with prizes and gift cards. Visitors have the chance to win by tweeting on Twitter or posting a selfie on Instagram while at the booth using the #ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ hashtag.
ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ offers customer service representative and technician positions at 700 locations across North America. Visit the ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ technicians page for open positions. ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ offers competitive wages and a wide range of . ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
By Bernie Mixon
ΜΗΠΔ΄«Γ½ will participate in SkillsUSA TECHSPO June 25-27 at H. Roe Bartle Hall and Municipal Auditorium, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo. Exhibits run 8 a.m. β 4 p.m. June 25 and 26, and 8 a.m. β 3 p.m. June 27. The event is open to the public.