june2022 - 42

TRAINING
to find one. The list includes a contact name
and phone number for each school. If you
know of schools close by that are not accredited,
we can work with you to help them earn
accreditation. That benefits you, the school,
and the students.
You are also likely to find that there are more
automotive than truck/diesel programs. That
is true just about everywhere, but don't let that
hold you back. You can still partner with and
contribute to the overall success of an automotive
training program and recruit those
students to come work for you. Much of the
knowledge and skills obtained in an automotive
program are transferable to the mediumand
heavy-duty truck world.
Photo: 133527729 | Auremar | Dreamstime
Troubleshooting
tech shortage
with area schools
By working with ASE-accredited
educational institutions, finding
entry-level technicians will
be less of a problem.
You need more service technicians. If not
today, you will need them soon. Ideally, you
would have a process for " growing your own "
that ensures a steady supply of new talent
for your shop. But you are already very busy
taking care of customers, ordering parts, and
maintaining trucks. You may not have much
time for, or expertise in, running a training
organization for entry-level technicians.
The good news is that high schools and
colleges in your community have already
identified young people interested in careers
in the service industry and are providing them
with the fundamental technical training they
need to get started. Those schools are your
potential partners, but you must cultivate the
partnership. And like most things in life, the
more you put into the relationship, the more
you get out of it.
Which should I target: high schools or colleges?
If your need for technicians is immediate, you
might assume that colleges are a better bet than
high schools. College students certainly have
some advantages: Most will be over 18, have
transportation, and be available for part-time
work during the school year. But don't overlook
the potential in high school students. The
best students may continue their studies in a
college program or go right into working full
time. In either case, they are likely to already
be employed when they graduate from high
school, so you shouldn't wait.
You might also think that your shop insurBy
George Arrants
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ASE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
George Arrants works with instructors and administrators
to develop partnerships with local businesses and industries
through program advisory committees. He is the
past chair of the Technology and Maintenance Council's
TMCSuperTech, the National Technician Skills Competition,
and TMCFutureTech, the National Student Technician
Competition. His entire career has been in the automotive
service and education industries.
ance prohibits employees under 18, but this
may be a bad assumption. Check with your
insurance agent to verify whether minors
can be employed under your policy and any
restrictions that apply. In addition, many states
have regulations to specifically allow 16- and
17-year-old students to work in repair shops
when participating in a structured work-based
learning program. The most common restriction
is that minors may not drive business- or
customer-owned vehicles on public roads, which
is a good rule to follow in any case. That doesn't
prevent them from working on the vehicles.
How do I find schools near me?
Here is the good news: There are over 2,300
ASE-accredited high school and college
programs across the U.S., so chances are
there are one or more in your area. Visit
aseeducationfoundation.org/find-a-program
42 Fleet Maintenance | June 2022
Why is ASE accreditation important?
You know what skills entry-level techs need
to work in your business. It is critical that the
schools educating your future employees know
what those skills are as well. ASE program
accreditation ensures that schools have the
complete course of study, tools, equipment,
facilities, support services, adequate budget,
and qualified instructors to deliver instruction
aligned with current technology and repair
practices defined by the service industry.
Furthermore, every ASE-accredited school
is required to have an advisory committee
composed of service business owners from the
community. If you aren't already a member, joining
the committee is the first thing you should
do. This committee is the opportunity for you
and other local stakeholders to hold the school
accountable and ensure that students are learning
the skills they will need to work for you.
What does an advisory committee do?
Advisory committees typically meet for one
to two hours twice a year. Meetings are held
at the school or virtually. The members are
local business and industry owners, managers,
and technicians, along with educators and
administrators from the school. Parents and
local elected officials may also be part of the
committee. Its purpose is to assist the school
administration and the program with guidance
and recommendations from an industry or
employer perspective on ideas such as equipment
purchases, skills needed by local industry,
and certifications that students can earn
while in school that provide value to employers.
Members of the advisory committee also
assist the school in obtaining and maintaining
ASE accreditation for the training program. If
you want to see your tax dollars wisely spent
and benefit your company at the same time,
this is the place to do it.
What is the overall value of school-industry
partnerships?
When a fleet service business supports a local
school's training program, it is not only building
the future pipeline of talent for its service
departments, but it can also grow community
awareness for its company, find candidates
for a variety of jobs in its company, and build
teamwork and morale.
http://www.aseeducationfoundation.org/find-a-program
june2022

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