Universal Technical Institute Expands Daimler Trucks North America's Finish First Technician Training Program to Midwest Campus

SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- July 28, 2014: Universal Technical Institute , the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, announced the official expansion of Daimler Trucks North America's (DTNA) Finish First training program to its new campus in Lisle, Ill., where classes begin today.

DTNA's Finish First program, available at UTI's Avondale, Ariz. campus since 2008, was expanded to UTI-Lisle to meet the growing demand for qualified truck technicians at DTNA dealerships nationwide. With the expansion of this manufacturer-specific advanced training (MSAT) program, UTI-Lisle students may receive advanced training for Freightliner and Western Star commercial vehicles.

Led by DTNA-certified program instructors, Finish First informs students about vehicle components such as suspension, brakes, steering, electrical and HVAC systems, as well as advanced multiplexed architectures featured in today's DTNA trucks. The technicians graduate from the 12-week program with full Freightliner and Western Star certifications, providing an important advantage to hiring dealerships as they can immediately begin working and providing customer value in the shop.

"The program's dynamic learning environment prepares graduates to succeed in the field of medium and heavy-duty truck service," said Kim McWaters, chairman and chief executive officer at UTI. "Students who attend this program can earn valuable certifications that might have otherwise taken years to achieve, making them top choice technicians for the DTNA dealer network."

The Finish First program's expansion to Lisle comes at a critical time for the diesel industry considering that about half of all currently employed diesel technicians will be eligible to retire within 15 years. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor reports there will be approximately 1.4 million jobs in the diesel, automotive, motorcycle and marine industries in the United States by the year 2020. As the market leader in the commercial vehicle field with a commitment to unparalleled customer support, DTNA has a particular demand for skilled service technicians.

"Our service network is in need of capable technicians and this partnership enables us to attract a new generation of highly-trained diesel technicians equipped to help us provide valuable uptime to our Freightliner and Western Star customers," said Dragan Brocilo, Manager of Training Programs and Marketing at DTNA.

With two UTI-campuses from which to draw, the Finish First program is expected to provide a steady flow of well-trained, ready-to-work technicians to DTNA's dealership network. With UTI's national footprint, the Finish First program is scalable and as future demand is determined, additional campus locations are possible.