The Official Blog of Penske Transportation Solutions

truck maintenance technicians

Great pay, solid benefits and a flexible schedule are just some of the things Penske technicians enjoy when working for the industry leader.

However, one thing that carries just as much significance is the continuous training opportunities – a benefit that Megan Kitto, a Penske technician in Ontario, Canada, says was a determining factor in her choosing a career at Penske.

“The training we receive is important to me,” she said. “If you don’t get training, you won’t be able to increase your knowledge and take your career to new heights.”

An Itch for Learning

After buying her first vehicle, a ’93 pickup truck, Kitto (pictured below) knew there would come a time when she would have to make a few repairs and conduct routine maintenance on it, but there was one problem: she didn’t know how. Kitto looks to her uncle, an automotive service manager, as the person who encouraged her to pursue a technical career.

“I knew I needed to learn, and he helped me get started,” Kitto said.

When she joined Penske, Kitto came with two years of work experience. When asked what led her to where she is today, she says that at her last job, Penske was viewed as the next step in your career progression among many technicians.

“Everybody from my first shop makes Penske their next stop,” she said. “The top-notch training at Penske is what all of my co-workers would talk about. Before I came here, my friend told me the company offers so much training.”

The technology and training are what Kitto says have a huge impact on helping her have a rewarding career and leaving her proud of what she does. It’s no surprise this technician feels like she’s at the right place.

“The pride in knowing that you took something that was broken and needed repaired, you fixed it, and now it’s driving down the road; that’s what’s rewarding about what I do,” Kitto said. “My job would be more frustrating if I didn’t know what I was doing. The training at Penske prepares you to take on anything that may come your way.”

Connecting and Supporting Others

Kitto admires the inclusive and supportive work culture Penske offers to its employees. And in an effort to support others in the field, a few years ago, she created a personal social media group as a forum for female technicians to interact and share each other’s experiences. Currently, the group has more than 500 followers from all over the world (e.g., North America, Europe, Africa and Australia).

“The platform serves as a great place to ask questions and discuss different things we encounter while on the job,” said Kitto. “Everyone is supportive of each other and is always happy to offer career advice.”

Move Your Career Forward

Penske is always looking for qualified technicians to join the team. For information on career opportunities at Penske, click here.

By Chris Abruzzo

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Penske Truck Leasing recently took part in a ceremony at Western Technical College's Plaza Campus in El Paso, Texas, to introduce a new Penske-branded classroom.

The opportunity came about after the company had signed a major customer in the area. In an effort to properly service the account for years to come, John Diehl, group maintenance manager, who works in the specialized equipment group, approached the school about the collaboration.

Penske Truck Leasing has hired 20 Western Tech graduates in the last year.

“We are very pleased to support Western Tech with the debut of this new classroom," said Fred Haddad, area vice president, who was in attendance for the big day. “We also enjoy interacting with the students to help prepare them for exciting new careers as truck maintenance technicians."

Penske also takes part in training and mentoring opportunities at the school and sits on their program advisory committee.

“The technician shortage is very real in our industry," stated district manager Kerry Stewart, who is based in El Paso. “This collaboration is another step towards continuing a pipeline of new technicians into our district and across the company."

For more information on career opportunities, click here.

By Alen Beljin

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Deep in the combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, optimal working military vehicles are the key to survival for men and women on the battlefield.

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“Hearing from professional, successful women in the industry brought a new level of education to our students, one that can’t be taught in the classroom,” explained Jacqui Arcidiacono, employment services director for UTI-Exton.

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Penske Truck Leasing has announced the winners of its 2012-2013 National Technical Challenge. The Tech Challenge is a company event that will be held every other year to test the skillsets of its truck maintenance technician workforce via hands-on and written assessments. There were two types of entries: a two-person vehicle systems team and individual competitors in the preventive maintenance (PM) event.

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Penske Truck Leasing has named its 15 finalists for the 2012-2013 National Technical Challenge, an in-house competition for its truck maintenance technician workforce.

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After beginning work with Penske Truck Leasing nine years ago as a truck collision center clerk, Tess Bilbruck is today a branch service manager in Tempe, Ariz., where she manages a team of 14 well-trained maintenance technicians.

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On Sept. 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Penske will participate in a Milicruit online career fair. Milicruit is a website devoted to pairing U.S. military veterans with prospective employers. This event is open to both military veterans and military spouses. Visit http://www.veteranscareerfair.com/to register.

Penske’s human resources staff will host real-time chats with prospective associates, seeking to hire for U.S. jobs like: technicians/mechanics, vehicle maintenance supervisors/managers, drivers, sales and customer service.

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On June 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Penske will once again participate in the Milicruit online career fair.Milicruit is a website devoted to pairing U.S. military veterans with prospective employers. This particular event is open to both military veterans and military spouses. Please visit www.veteranscareerfair.com to register for the event.

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Penske will participate in two Milicruit online careers fairs during the month of May.Milicruit is a website devoted to pairing U.S. military veterans with prospective employers through online employment fairs.

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