deisel schools

[averageautotech]

Hope this is in the right place - wasn't sure if it fit better here, or in Free Parking.

I'm currently in high school (graduate in May), and half-way through a 2 year auto tech program. I'm weighing my options for the future, and considering Diesel school and/or Some kind of on-site power generation program.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about what schools to consider?
I have my finances more-or-less sorted out, and I don't mind moving for the "right" program, but close to home (east Tennessee) would be nice - just looking for some real-world experience about what's good and bad out there.

Any help and and advice is appreciated.

 

[gayler]

Welcome to GJ! Please edit your profile to show your location.

 

[kd3pc]

some of the CAT dealers (Carter Cat in the mid atlantic) have programs to take in qualified students in to their own program...Cummins has one as well....heavy truck dealers often take. Some of the local generator/marine repair places will take a tech as an "apprentice" and they get pretty good factory training on Yanmar/Volvo/etc small diesel plants.

Had a friend who went to WYO (used to be Blair tech or some such) in PA and did very well at Mercedes when he got out. Expensive, so be prepared to do the work and spend your time wisely.

Best of luck.

 

[Shopteacher]

Not sure where you are located, but ADI in Owosso, Mi has a great diesel program. I know the guy that runs it and he is a real class act. (Disclamer: I work for a sister program)

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[averageautotech]

Edited original post so it was easier to understand and included a little background information to make the post clearer

 

[sqaurelizard]

Do you guys have a government controlled apprentice program for trades or how does it operate. Here you have to approach company's in your selected field or apply for the apprentice scheme jobs that appear from the bigger company's from time to time. Once your signed up you will spend approx 50/50 time with the company and school training. The company pays you a allowance when your working with them and the government pays your allowance when your in college. Its a 4 year program for all the trades and you have approved exams ad reviews along the way. Interested in how other places work.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Misspelt headings are a great marketing tool.
It made me click on this thread.

 

[skylinegtr20]

Do you guys have a government controlled apprentice program for trades or how does it operate. Here you have to approach company's in your selected field or apply for the apprentice scheme jobs that appear from the bigger company's from time to time. Once your signed up you will spend approx 50/50 time with the company and school training. The company pays you a allowance when your working with them and the government pays your allowance when your in college. Its a 4 year program for all the trades and you have approved exams ad reviews along the way. Interested in how other places work.

Not exactly sure how the US works. But for Canada its a 4 year program... 1500hrs work experience yearly, 8 weeks of schooling yearly, with exams yearly. After 4th year there is a inter-provincial "red seal" exam. It is optionary but is required to be a licensed auto tech in every provinces/territories of Canada (besides quebec). You can also use the Red Seal as credidation within most commonwealth countries, however the USA does not recognize our program...

 

[Skin]

Not exactly sure how the US works. But for Canada its a 4 year program... 1500hrs work experience yearly, 8 weeks of schooling yearly, with exams yearly. After 4th year there is a inter-provincial "red seal" exam. It is optionary but is required to be a licensed auto tech in every provinces/territories of Canada (besides quebec). You can also use the Red Seal as credidation within most commonwealth countries, however the USA does not recognize our program...

And that's why Canada is light years ahead in out of school pay/benefits.

 

[bw77]

Not exactly sure how the US works. But for Canada its a 4 year program... 1500hrs work experience yearly, 8 weeks of schooling yearly, with exams yearly. After 4th year there is a inter-provincial "red seal" exam. It is optionary but is required to be a licensed auto tech in every provinces/territories of Canada (besides quebec). You can also use the Red Seal as credidation within most commonwealth countries, however the USA does not recognize our program...

optionary - that's a new word for me.
It means a combination of optional and voluntary.
Perhaps used more in Canada?

 

[metaleltr]

Considering you are in Tennessee, I would look in to Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) The are a part of the Lincoln group of schools, The Lincoln diesel program at their Indianapolis campus is quite impressive.

 

[jmm]

And that's why Canada is light years ahead in out of school pay/benefits.

No kidding. The trades in the US are terribly neglected as compared to University training programs, and compared to other countries we're in the stone ages. I'm looking at you admiringly, Canada, Germany, et al.

OP, as mentioned, go to a school with dealer training. This can be done at a regular community college. You do not have to seek out the so called 'elite' trade schools to get CAT training, for instance. UTI and your local community college with dealer training teach the same thing, and their name seems to carry no more weight than a regular school does (in my travels, at least).

 

[Steinmetz]

Do you guys have a government controlled apprentice program for trades or how does it operate. Here you have to approach company's in your selected field or apply for the apprentice scheme jobs that appear from the bigger company's from time to time. Once your signed up you will spend approx 50/50 time with the company and school training. The company pays you a allowance when your working with them and the government pays your allowance when your in college. Its a 4 year program for all the trades and you have approved exams ad reviews along the way. Interested in how other places work.

In the United States, no.

 

[averageautotech]

anyone have any opinions pertaining to the CAT thinkbig program?

 

[ladrones]

I know several who have been through a Cat dealer apprentice program. It is a combo of on the job training in 5 week blocks followed by 5 week blocks of college. The dealer seeds you with the tools to start and once you complete the program you keep the tools.

 

[dynamike]

Considering you are in Tennessee, I would look in to Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) The are a part of the Lincoln group of schools, The Lincoln diesel program at their Indianapolis campus is quite impressive.

+1 on NADC. I went there and think it was money well spent. Can't say for sure now that it's Lincoln Tech.

 

[mshell56118]

Universal technical in Phoenix is partnered with Cummins you can go through there program and get cummins certified plus they also offer a generator program to go with it. I know it's a little far away but it is a good program. We have hired a couple guys from there at the cummins distributor I work for


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[tndieselman]

Since you said you were in East Tenn.,You may want to check in the Diesel Programs at the
Vo-tech schools in Knoxville or Harriman.

 

[pburressiii]

http://www.ttcknoxville.edu/ I have no personal experience with this school, but the recruiter for Stower's machinery corporation recommend them to me a while back



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[DSLTECHMEDIC360]

anyone have any opinions pertaining to the CAT thinkbig program?

I graduated from the thinkbig program. I learned alot from it, and believe it's a great program. I liked that you went school then work then back to school to help reinforce what you learned. The only thing from a few other people I went to school with is the shops held them back on different jobs and stuff. Mine was a small dealer but we did everything AG, Earthmoving, Industrial, On-highway, implements, compact equipment.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

If you can get into the ThinkBig program, I'd go that route.

I went through the Diesel Tech & Onsite Power Gen programs at Idaho State University. Both programs were excellent, but the actual college doesn't communicate with the program well, or set up a real schedule to get you through in a set amount of time (those damn general education classes!)
I'm finishing up my generals at North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, ID and their program is lined up for 4 semesters with all the classes laid out so when you're done, you can dive right into the industry (which you can through ISU, but they don't lay it out as well outside of the actual Diesel classes).

 

[quietsailor]

long time lurker on this site but similar questions have been popping up on an Irish site I post on a lot so I thought I'd throw in my 2c.

OP - would you consider the Merchant Navy? it's diesel engines on a biggg scale, also you'll be learning about the ancillary equipment - air compressors, power generation, steam boilers, water production etc etc. That'll position you for jobs on oil rigs, refineries, pharma industry if you think your life could lead you that way?

 

[carl456]

long time lurker on this site but similar questions have been popping up on an Irish site I post on a lot so I thought I'd throw in my 2c.

OP - would you consider the Merchant Navy? it's diesel engines on a biggg scale, also you'll be learning about the ancillary equipment - air compressors, power generation, steam boilers, water production etc etc. That'll position you for jobs on oil rigs, refineries, pharma industry if you think your life could lead you that way?

What Irish site is that? from Ireland myself, isn't boards is it?

 

[quietsailor]

What Irish site is that? from Ireland myself, isn't boards is it?

yes indeed, boards.ie for anyone who is wondering what the 2 crazy irish people are talking about

I saw we both have 7 posts here Carl, we can keeping posting here about the wonders of that forum and bump up our post count - although I wouldn't be shocked either if the mods here give me a whack of the mod stick.

For the wider forum people on here - I'd use boards as it gives me up to date info on news here for my Irish interests but I love coming onto GJ to look at the garages (Drool), tools (double drool) and projects (smiley ). ye really don't know how lucky you are over here in the states

 

[finn]

We used to hire quite a few techs as dyno operators. In general, I'd suggest a public junior college over one of the heavily marketed and expensive for-profit schools.

There are exceptions, but the community college kids seemed to work out better and didn't have the debt load the for-profit kids had. Just seemed more focused and stable employees.

 

[Humble Mechanic]

Misspelt headings are a great marketing tool.
It made me click on this thread.

LOL me too

 

[techenthusiast]

Make sure you take all your pre req's first so you can get out there and work in your last semester. I'm in my last semester and I'm still taking pre req's I had to turn down an amazing offer because of it


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[ihateminimumwage]

Make sure you take all your pre req's first so you can get out there and work in your last semester. I'm in my last semester and I'm still taking pre req's I had to turn down an amazing offer because of it

That's what my school didn't tell you until after you're signed up. General Ed requirements are what is holding me up from getting back to work.

 

[56FordGuy]

Considering you are in Tennessee, I would look in to Nashville Auto Diesel College (NADC) The are a part of the Lincoln group of schools, The Lincoln diesel program at their Indianapolis campus is quite impressive.

I'd advise against it. I went there, and it was excessively expensive for the quality of education you get, in my opinion. The neighborhood around the school is terrible, the local pawn shops are stuffed to the gills with tools that disappeared from the school's shops. I believe they switched now, the students are provided a tool kit that they are required to bring to class instead of the students using school shop tools. The administration is less than willing to help if you have issues, and the majority of instructors (not all) are just there to get through the day. They don't have a lot of concern for what you may or may not learn, they just try and get through the lesson plan. There are some great ones there, but they're in the minority.

When I went there, the instructors rotated between classes and sometimes had little to no knowledge on the subject they were teaching at the time. Our welding instructor was very up front that he didn't know how to weld, and just read the book to us. Same for a few other classes, I recall hydraulics was that way and so was one more, but it's been a while so I forget exactly.

I'd recommend a different school, or manufacturer/ dealer program.

 

[techenthusiast]

That's what my school didn't tell you until after you're signed up. General Ed requirements are what is holding me up from getting back to work.

I had an opportunity to work at a fleet on tugboats that I had to turn down because of it and I feel like an opportunity like that is really rare around here where I live. Might not happen again


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[becker_atc]

Had several friends go to Oklahoma state university institute of technology osuit.edu I believe. Cat aggreko komatsu kenworth and an ag program. They all are doing well. I was in the instrumentation program..


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