In recent years it has become
obvious that our industry does not have an adequate number of well trained
diesel mechanics to support our mutual equipment fleets. Organizations such
as the Arizona Associated Equipment Distributors have initiated programs to
provide scholarships to Technical Schools that are paid for by specific
association members. Red Mountain has participated in the program and has
moved two young men through the scholarship program and currently is
sponsoring a third student.
This excellent program has successfully
recruited young people into the industry but falls far short of the industry
needs. How do we as an industry provide ongoing training specific to our
fleet requirements? Equipment manufacturer's such as Caterpillar, Komatsu,
John Deere and Volvo offer training schools, but they are difficult to
participate in due to either (1) the distance students/employees must travel;
(2) the length of time a student/employee must be pulled off the job; or (3)
the lack of space available in the classes.
The training dilemma has plagued our industry for years, to provide a
solution; Red Mountain has initiated its own Technical Training Department.
Through this program we will provide both classroom and hands on training for
our own employees, our customers, and our vendors.
Wil Young and Kent Kraayenbrink, both former Caterpillar dealer certified training instructors, have recently
joined Red Mountain to provide the initial structure and training for this
program. Wil currently holds a Regional Certification, in addition to, Engine, Electronics and Failure Analysis Certifications. Kent currently holds a Regional Certification, as well as, Powertrain, Hydraulics, and Failure Analysis. To begin the program a comprehensive test developed by Wil and Kent is given
to the student to identify the areas that each student can obtain the largest
amount of skill level increase considering their employer's fleet. Upon
completion of the test, and a thorough evaluation of the results, an ongoing
curriculum will be developed to provide continuing education in the basic and
advanced levels of the subjects identified. This
series of classes will be made available at various times.
Initially these classes will be held in the training facilities located in
our Chandler, Arizona location.
Training is an essential element in employee growth and development and will
have a positive impact on the bottom line of all participating companies.
When you have evaluated your needs, please contact any of our sales
representatives. Our employees are excited about the opportunity
to improve their skills allowing both personal and career advancement, and we
are excited about being able to offer this service to our industry.
