Navistar is celebrating National Technician Appreciation Week from Sept. 24-30 by graduating the company’s second Uptime Academy class and donating equipment to several technical colleges and programs.

“From our Uptime Academy program to simply connecting with our technicians through continuing education, there is no shortage of passion and heart in our dealer service network,” said Ana Salcido, technician recruitment manager. “Our technicians are the men and women getting their hands dirty with our vehicles on a daily basis, and their enthusiasm inspires us.”

Navistar’s 2022-2023 Uptime Academy class included 18 apprentices, all high school graduates who spent 12 months learning to service many International and IC Bus vehicle types and electric and fuel cell technology. Each class spends 3,200 hours gaining real-world experience and 800 hours doing class and lab work to prepare for their careers.

Meanwhile, Navistar’s TECH EmPOWERment program, which works to assist technician recruitment, training, retention, and donation efforts to technical programs, coordinated donations from several U.S. dealers to local colleges and technical programs. These donations went to:

• Lonoke Public School District in Lonoke, Arkansas by Rush Truck Centers
• Southern Illinois University diesel program by Navistar Research & Development (R&D)
• St. Louis Community College in St. Louis, Missouri by Rush Truck Centers
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Clarksville, Tennessee by Tri-State International, Inc.
• Hendrickson USA in Woodridge, Illinois by Navistar R&D
• WTI Foundation in Laramie, Wyoming by McCandless International
• Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, Alabama by Southland Transportation Group
• Ranken Technical College in Wentzville, Missouri by Rush Enterprises
• Ventura College in Ventura, California by Gibbs Truck
• Palomar Community College in San Marcos, California by Cal Pacific Truck Center
• Wayne County Schools Career Center in Smithville, Ohio by Rush Truck Centers
• Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama by Southland Transportation Group
• Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan by West Michigan International
• Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe, Louisiana by Scott Truck
• Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas

For more ideas on ideas on how to celebrate National Technician Appreciation Week, check out Fleet Maintenance’s past reporting here.