College of Western Idaho
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Heavy-Duty Truck Technician
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician program at the College of Western Idaho provides specialized training, knowledge, and skills for students who desire to learn how to diagnose, repair, and maintain diesel engines and heavy-duty trucks and equipment.
Through specialized classroom instruction and skill-specific hands-on training, students will learn about diesel theory, tool safety, communication skills, principles and care of the combustible engine, fuel systems, lubrication systems, cooling systems, hydraulic brake systems, air brake systems, transmissions, differentials, drive lines, basic hydraulics, suspension and steering systems, electrical systems, engine performance, understanding technical manuals, understanding service parts, shop safety, and shop maintenance.
Graduates of the Heavy-Duty Truck Technician program at the College of Western Idaho will be well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and training needed to repair and maintain diesel powered equipment such as diesel engines, diesel components, trucks, buses, and agriculture equipment.
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Programs
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician A.A.S Degree Program
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Associate Degree program consists of the following core classes:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Mobile Hydraulics/Braking Systems
- Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Advanced Braking Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy-Duty Truck Capstone
Students are also required to take Oral Communication, Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing, and one additional General Education Elective from the approved list in order to meet the 67 credit hour requirements of the Associate of Applied Science Degree program. Students are required to complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Advanced Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Advanced Technical Certificate program contains the following courses:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Mobile Hydraulics/Braking Systems
- Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Advanced Braking Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy-Duty Truck Capstone
Students are also required to take either Oral Communication or Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, and Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing order to fulfill the 60 credit hour requirements of the Advanced Technical Certificate program. Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Intermediate Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Intermediate Technical Certificate program contains the following courses:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Mobile Hydraulics/Braking Systems
- Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
Students are also required to take either Oral Communication or Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, and Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing order to fulfill the 33 credit requirements of the Intermediate Technical Certificate program. In order to graduate, students must complete every course and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Basic Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Basic Technical Certificate program contains the following classes:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Mobile Hydraulics/Braking Systems
- Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
Students are required to complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Advanced Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Basic Technical Certificate Program
The Advanced Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Basic Technical Certificate program consists of the following courses:
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Drivetrains/Steering and Suspension
- Advanced Braking Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy-Duty Truck Capstone
Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Heavy Equipment Technician Programs
The Heavy Equipment Technician A.A.S Degree Program
The Heavy Equipment Technician Associate Degree program consists of the following core classes:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Mobile Hydraulic Systems
- Powertrains
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Powertrains
- Advanced Hydraulic Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy Equipment Capstone
Students are also required to take Oral Communication, Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing, and one additional General Education Elective from the approved list in order to meet the 67 credit hour requirements of the Associate of Applied Science Degree program. Students are required to complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Heavy Equipment Technician Advanced Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy Equipment Technician Advanced Technical Certificate program contains the following courses:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Mobile Hydraulic Systems
- Powertrains
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Powertrains
- Advanced Hydraulic Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy Equipment Capstone
Students are also required to take either Oral Communication or Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, and Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing order to fulfill the 60 credit hour requirements of the Advanced Technical Certificate program. Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Heavy Equipment Technician Intermediate Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy Equipment Technician Intermediate Technical Certificate program contains the following courses:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Mobile Hydraulic Systems
- Powertrains
Students are also required to take either Oral Communication or Written Communication, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, and Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing order to fulfill the 33 credit requirements of the Intermediate Technical Certificate program. In order to graduate, students must complete every course and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Heavy Equipment Technician Basic Technical Certificate Program
The Heavy Equipment Technician Basic Technical Certificate program contains the following classes:
- Shop Practices
- Electrical Systems
- Engines/Engine Controls
- Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Mobile Hydraulic Systems
- Powertrains
Students are required to complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The Advanced Heavy Equipment Technician Basic Technical Certificate Program
The Advanced Heavy Equipment Technician Basic Technical Certificate program consists of the following courses:
- Truck Driving Skills
- Advanced Electrical Systems
- Advanced Engine/Engine Controls
- Advanced Powertrains
- Advanced Hydraulic Systems
- Advanced Preventive Maintenance/HVAC
- Heavy Equipment Capstone
Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
Employment Opportunities
As the diesel industry continues to grow rapidly, job opportunities for qualified diesel mechanics is expected to increase 11% by the year 2020, as fast as average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists working in the United States in 2014 was $45,160, while the mean salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the state of Idaho was $40,750 yearly and $19.59 hourly, just 10% lower than the national average.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree and Technical Certificate
The College of Western Idaho offers a two-year Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree, as well as a two-year Heavy Equipment Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree. The College of Western Idaho also offers eight different Technical Certificates with Heavy-Duty Truck Technician and Heavy Equipment Technician specializations. All ten programs are Pell Grant eligible.
Employment Opportunities
As the diesel industry continues to grow rapidly, job opportunities for qualified diesel mechanics is expected to increase 11% by the year 2020, as fast as average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists working in the United States in 2014 was $45,160, while the mean salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the state of Idaho was $40,750 yearly and $19.59 hourly, just 10% lower than the national average.
The Associate of Applied Science Degree and Technical Certificate
The College of Western Idaho offers a two-year Heavy-Duty Truck Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree, as well as a two-year Heavy Equipment Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree. The College of Western Idaho also offers eight different Technical Certificates with Heavy-Duty Truck Technician and Heavy Equipment Technician specializations. All ten programs are Pell Grant eligible.