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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

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Around this time of year, thousands of college students across the country are beginning their summer internships in their field of study, hoping to jumpstart their careers and gain professional real-world and hands-on experience.

More than 40 undergraduates – the biggest internship class ever for Penske – will be doing just that as part of the company’s Summer Internship Program at its corporate headquarters in Green Hills, Pennsylvania, and Beachwood, Ohio. Interns have the opportunity to shadow experienced associates and participate in networking, volunteering and team building events with other interns.

“The 12-week program is an excellent way to provide students with hands-on experience in their field of study and provide ideas on potential career paths,” said Gabrielle Williamson, human resources area manager. “From the start, interns get fully immersed into the department’s day-to-day operations, meet company leaders and receive a project related to their field of study.”

Interns are assigned to work in the following departments at Penske:

  • Environmental
  • Finance
  • Fleet Management
  • Fuel and Facility Services
  • HR
  • Insurance Risk Management
  • IT and MIS
  • Legal
  • Marketing
  • Operational Excellence
  • Real Estate
  • Rental
  • Safety
  • Sales
  • Sourcing
  • Vehicle Remarketing
  • Vehicle Supply and Planning

Additionally, interns can participate in a number of professional learning and development classes to sharpen their communication and networking skills – something that Mackenzie Hintenach, an intern in Penske’s marketing department, is taking full advantage of.

“These sessions have taught me how to be a contributing member to my team,” said Hintenach, a graphic design major who will begin her senior year at West Chester University in the fall. “What I find the most rewarding is that these lessons can be applied to other areas of my life.”

While the program gives students more experience to put on their resumes, it also serves as a powerful recruiting tool for the company. Departments consider its high-performing interns for available full-time and part-time positions as the summer comes to a close.

“Our interns are viewed as a pipeline for current or future openings, depending on where the intern is in their schooling,” said Ashley Bilinski, human resources representative for Penske. “Last year, half of our intern class was offered extended internships, and one was promoted to a non-intern role.”

When it came time to choose where she wanted to intern for the summer, Hintenach said it was an easy decision: Penske’s marketing department. She interned there last summer and wanted to come back because she really admired what the program had to offer.

“I chose Penske’s internship program because it’s very hands-on,” said Hintenach. “So far, I’ve been able to see some of my contributions come to fruition, like design posters and social media graphics for various events. They treat me like another member of the team.”

Furthermore, the program allows Penske to build relationships with various universities and serves as a great vehicle to increase brand recognition. The program draws students from all over the globe. The 40-plus students who make up this summer’s internship class were selected from the following schools:

United States

Canada

China

Students must meet certain requirements in order to qualify for Penske’s Summer Internship Program, including:

  • Being a full-time college student pursuing a bachelor’s degree (some internships require specific areas of study)
  • Having a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Entering junior or senior year
  • Completion of some core curriculum classes is preferred

Interested in gaining real-world experience through an internship at Penske? Visit Penske’s careers website to see a list of available internships.

By Chris Abruzzo

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As an ambitious 22-year-old with two bachelor’s degrees from California State University, Long Beach, Christina Darlak was ready to take on the real world. With an already impressive resume filled with her internship experience, Darlak felt prepared but was facing one dilemma – she didn’t have a job lined up after graduation.

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Take charge. Think fast. Move forward. A career at Penske can expose you to many opportunities and put you on the fast track to achieving your professional goals.

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Accepting the award are Tamsin Bencivengo, manager of employment brand (left), and Ron Schwartz, director of staffing services.

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Today’s commercial vehicles, like those offered by Penske Truck Leasing, are more connected than ever with computer technology monitoring everything from engine performance to fuel efficiency.

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Fresh from his tour in the Marine Corps, Cristian Raymundo wanted more than just a job when he settled back into civilian life.

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Everything seems big when you grow up the youngest of seven children, but nothing more so for Earl Taylor than his older brother’s tall royal blue Kenworth tractor, with its tandem axles and twin stacks.

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Just as he had many times, Jeff Rutkowski slipped into the driver’s seat of his military security vehicle and headed out from his Afghanistan Marine base to help watch over a supply convoy bringing much-needed supplies to infantry units on the front lines.

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As tales of trucking life leapt from the small screen, in such 1970s and ‘80s television programs as “Movin’ On” and “BJ and The Bear,” a teenaged Brian Tolle found himself drawn to the freedom of a life lived on the road.

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Penske plans to hire body shop technicians at a special Open House Tuesday, July 26, at the Penske Truck Rental location at 283 Burnham Street, East Hartford, Connecticut. The event is also commemorating the 10th anniversary of the location.

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Penske’s professional truck drivers spend much of their days on busy roads, often surrounded by other vehicles. With all the potential distractions, safe driving is paramount.

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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.

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Penske Truck Leasing in Denver received the Employer of the Year award from Lincoln Technical College. Accepting the award are associates (from left) Monty Younce, area maintenance manager; Zach Endicott, district manager; Cecil Reed, district service manager; and Michael Campbell, area human resources manager.

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Sabrina Russell (left), a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, applies her military skills in her maintenance supervisor role at Penske Truck Leasing in Austin, Texas.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has awarded $2.3 million in grants to 13 technical and community colleges across the country to help train veterans and their families for jobs as commercial bus and truck drivers.

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