Penske Truck Leasing is joining the TechForce Foundation's efforts to recruit the next generation of truck fleet maintenance technicians by serving as an early adopter in the foundation's FutureTech Success campaign.
The TechForce Foundation works to raise awareness with school-age students about great career opportunities as professional technicians. The FutureTech Success campaign aims to raise awareness by rolling out a national multiyear, multimedia campaign in the United States.
With a North America truck fleet of over 298,000 vehicles, and an industry-leading truck maintenance workforce of approximately 8,000 people, Penske Truck Leasing is working with TechForce Foundation to help address an industrywide employment shortage of truck maintenance technicians.
TechForce's recent assessment shows the trucking industry needs nearly 300,000 new technicians over the next 10 years to meet demand.
“We're at the forefront of an exciting time in our industry, as a new era of connected, autonomous, shared, and electric vehicles will evolve the already highly-advanced, traditionally-powered vehicles on the road today," said Gregg Mangione, senior vice president of maintenance at Penske Truck Leasing. “We're investing in TechForce to help cultivate and build a pipeline of the next generation of truck fleet maintenance technicians to meet our needs today and well into the future."
In addition to its financial contribution, Penske Truck Leasing will take part in campaign marketing materials and advertising campaigns, while also sharing campaign content on Penske social media channels.
Penske will also sit on the campaign's National Leadership Cabinet; participate in the FutureTech video series titled: “When Techs Rock, America Rolls" to highlight Penske's best practices; and join the foundation in speaking events at schools nationwide.
“It is important that parents and educators are informed about the great careers available in transportation, since they often influence the post-secondary choices of young people," says Jennifer Maher, executive director at TechForce Foundation. “We are excited about Penske Truck Leasing joining our early adopters, especially because of their ability to provide additional perspective on the opportunities for truck fleet maintenance technicians."
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional auto, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, motorsports, watercraft, welding and aviation technicians.
By "Move Ahead" Staff
Penske Logistics truck driver Earl Taylor (standing) speaks during a visit to the White House as President Donald Trump (seated center) listens.
The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action, according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
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Body shop technicians at Penske Truck Collision Repair Centers specialize in commercial vehicle recovery, repairs and finishing. Each year, body shop technicians repair more than 20,000 commercial vehicles.
Ron Schwartz, director of staffing services who works in Penske’s Reading, Pennsylvania, headquarters, stated that adding technicians is one of the top hiring needs in 2016 and beyond.
Millennials value being developed and seeing a career path laid out before them. Penske offers the opportunity for techs to increase their skillsets and feature multiple levels based on ability and experience. About 42 percent of the company’s starting level technicians are 30 and younger.
“They’re joining a company with the depth and resources to help them build a successful career,” Mangione explained on a recent Friday afternoon from his office. “We’re the kind of company that trains you for success in your job and will train you to take on a leadership role if that is what you’re interested in. Many of our maintenance leaders began as technicians in our company.”
Mangione is referring to the Penske Technician Certification Program. TCP is recognized by the Automotive Training Managers Council as an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) training program.
Russell in the U.S. Army Reserves