Daimler Get Ahead Program Opens Doors for New Graduates
The Daimler “Get Ahead” partnership program gives students in Diesel Technology career training programs the opportunity to build advanced skills for working on the manufacturer’s specific technologies and equipment. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has been one of the nation’s top employers of diesel and truck technicians since the 1940s. In its early years, the company was known as Freightliner Corporation, a branch of German AG. Its Freightliner division, along with subsidiaries Detroit Diesel, Thomas Built Buses and Western Star Trucks, employs thousands of skilled, trained technicians and mechanics across the country. The Get Ahead program helps maintain a steady pipeline of new professionals for the company’s plants and maintenance facilities, and Tech’s South Plainfield campus is proud to offer this program.
When DTNA announced the launch of Get Ahead in 2017, the campus was nominated as a participating partner school by Campbell Freightliner and Atlantic Detroit. Once approved by DTNA, Tech was able to provide all diesel students with access to web-based Daimler training at no additional cost.
“Get Ahead allows our Diesel Technology students to participate in Daimler dealership-level training,” explains Tim O’Connor, Tech’s Director of Education. “Students can strengthen their knowledge on basic skills and increase their knowledge on Freightliner, Detroit Diesel and Western Star . This program benefits both Tech students and Daimler’s service network.”
Partnerships were key to pair Daimler Get Ahead with Tech
Campbell Freightliner, located in Monroe Township, NJ, and Atlantic Detroit in Piscataway, NJ both belong to the DTNA network. Campbell is an official Freightliner dealer, and Atlantic Detroit is a distributor of Detroit Diesel engines. Together, they help inform Tech’s curriculum and often hire graduates right out of school for positions on their teams. The relationship with expands with the Daimler Get Ahead program by providing additional training and instruction, and DTNA covers the costs. The goal is both to help students begin new careers after graduation, and to ensure DTNA locations always have an available supply of skilled candidates for positions as entry-level technicians and mechanics.
The Get Ahead program grants certificates for Heavy Duty Truck Systems, Electrical Troubleshooting, Electronic Systems, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), Detroit Diesel Heavy Duty Engines and more. To assist with student learning and hands-on practice, and have provided vehicles and engines to the campus. Prior to offering the program, Tech selected instructors to obtain certification from DTNA, which would allow them to deliver the Get Ahead program to students.
Daimler Get Ahead Available to South Plainfield Diesel Students
To get ahead of the competition for positions with DTNA, reach out to Tech’s South Plainfield campus – a staple of the region’s diesel technology and mechanics training for more than 60 years. Real-world diesel bays, including lifts, and a wide range of industry-standard equipment, give students hands-on exposure to the massive power behind the trucks, buses, and heavy equipment that keep the economy moving and growing. Tech is proud to offer the Get Ahead program as an enhancement to that training. Call or visit the campus today and learn how it can help you start on the road to a career with a worldwide leader in the diesel truck industry.