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Facing the technician shortage: How to recruit and retain top talent

Key insights and full panel conversation from the Mobil Delvac™ 2018 Fleet Maintenance Forum

No matter how big or small your team of technicians may be, recruiting and retaining top talent is a challenge. By 2026, the industry will need nearly 77,000 new diesel technicians, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And, due to a range of factors that include increasingly complex vehicle designs, these technicians need a more comprehensive skill set than ever before.

At the Mobil Delvac 2018 Fleet Maintenance Forum, industry experts and diesel technician advocates examined the root of this issue as well as what strategies and practices trucking fleets can implement to help them succeed.

Unlock key insights on these topics:

  • The truth about the technician challenge
  • Flexibility in hiring and investing in talent
  • The industry and schools working together to meet talent needs
  • An emerging workforce and what that means
  • The value of mentorship

Expert panelists

  • George Arrants TMC Super Tech Competition

    George Arrants

    Chair, TMC Super Tech Competition
    One of the country’s leading voices for technician education and advocacy, George has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to guide instructors through the ASE/NATEF program accreditation. He also serves as contest chairman of the ATA’s National Technician Skills Competition, TMC Super Tech, and he was awarded the council’s highest honor – the Silver Spark Plug ‒ in 2015.

  • Paul Cigala CVL app engineer

    Cigala

    CVL Applications Engineer, ExxonMobil
    For nearly 30 years at ExxonMobil, Paul has worked closely with fleets across the country to design tailored maintenance programs and provide ongoing support and education for their technicians. He is also a member of the TMC S.3 Engine Study Group. He completed his education at a diesel mechanic technical school.

  • Jerry Clemons faculty member at Elizabethtown Community and Techical College

    Jerry Clemons

    Program Coordinator and Faculty Member of Automotive and Diesel Technology Programs, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College
    Drawing on nearly 20 years’ experience educating new technicians, Jerry oversees curriculum development for one of the country’s top diesel technology programs at Elizabethtown Community & Technical College. He is also an Evaluation Team Leader for the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) and has been the author of several ASE test preparation products.

  • Mike Morvilius VP of Maintenance Moore Transport

    Mike Morvilius

    Vice President of Maintenance, Moore Transport
    Mike oversees the preventive maintenance program for Moore Transport, a mid-size fleet with 270 rigs. Having previously served as a regional maintenance manager for Jack Cooper, Mike has more than two decades of experience recruiting technicians and designing maintenance programs for fleets of different sizes.

  • Ken Shafer Director of Maintenance and Tank Cleaning

    Ken Shafer

    Director of Maintenance & Tank Cleaning, Superior Carriers
    Ken leads maintenance operations for Superior Carriers, one of North America’s largest bulk truck carriers. With nearly three decades of experience in the field, Ken oversees a team of technicians that conducts all of the fleet’s preventive maintenance work in-house.