$10,000 donation supports Heavy Duty Truck Technology students
Waste Management, the largest environmental solutions provider in North America, donated a $10,000 toolbox to the Heavy Duty Truck Technology (HDTT) program at Dakota County Technical College. Tim Gerten, senior district fleet manager at Waste Management, delivered the Snap-on toolbox to the HDTT program area on the DCTC Rosemount campus Tuesday, August 21, 2018.
“Waste Management has been building a relationship with the technical college over the last year,” said Gerten, who joined the HDTT Advisory Board six months ago. “We have been taking part in activities supported by the college that introduce students to careers in the transportation industry, including activities like the NitroX Summer Camp.”
Ken Klassen
Ken Klassen, HDTT faculty, reported that purchasing a tool set is required for students enrolled in the Heavy Duty Truck Technology program. The cost ranges from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on the vendor and the size of the toolbox.
“Waste Management provides new hires with a toolbox like the one donated to our program,” Klassen said, “with the idea the employee would own the toolbox after finishing eighteen months of employment with the company. Waste Management also offers other programs where the company covers educational costs if students meets GPA and length-of-employment requirements.”
Klassen added that HDTT students complete a required internship in the field during the last eight weeks of their education. Interns receive superb on-the-job training in state-of-the-art shops, including at Waste Management, which operates more than 32,000 collection and support vehicles in North America.
“We don’t have enough students to fill all the available internships, which means our graduates have a 100 percent employment rate in their chosen field,” Klassen said. “Our students are also the best recruiters for our program.”
More about Waste Management…
Waste Management is the largest environmental solutions provider in North America, serving more than 21 million municipal, commercial and industrial customers in the U.S. and Canada. We have invested in developing waste solutions for a changing world. Today, this includes not just disposal and recycling, but personal counseling to help customers achieve their green goals, including zero waste.
Waste Management is North America’s largest residential recycler and a renewable energy provider. We recover the naturally occurring gas inside landfills to generate electricity, called landfill-gas-to-energy. Waste Management’s fleet of natural gas trucks is the largest heavy-duty truck fleet of its kind in North America. With the largest network of recycling facilities, transfer stations and landfills in the industry, our entire business can adapt to meet the needs of every distinct customer segment.
As North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management services, our mission is to maximize resource value while minimizing impact in order to further both economic and environmental sustainability for all of our stakeholders. ¹
To learn more, visit Think Green.
More about the Heavy Duty Truck Technology program…
As a student in the HDTT program at DCTC, you will learn all aspects of heavy-duty truck repair and maintenance. The program focuses on large trucks, typically class 7 and 8. Areas of instruction include:
- Electrical and electronic systems
- Steering/alignment
- Foundation brakes
- Air brakes
- Anti-lock brake systems
You will perform diesel engine troubleshooting as well as overhauls and tune-ups on both mechanical and electronic engines. Clutch, transmission, drive axle repair and overhaul are taught along with welding instruction, preventive maintenance and HVAC.
You will be given the opportunity to obtain a commercial drivers license (CDL) and become a state of Minnesota certified commercial vehicle inspector.
This program is accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). Programs must undergo extensive evaluation and site visits by NATEF to receive and retain program accreditation.
To learn more about Heavy Duty Truck Technology at DCTC, contact:
Kenneth Klassen
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Faculty
651-423-8402
Brent Newville
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Faculty
651-423-8327
Pete Szybatka
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Faculty
651-423-8591
¹ Courtesy of Waste Management
