Stories @ TCAT

This article was originally published on February 29, 2016

Robert Huskins of Erwin, Tenn., and Lester Julian, adjunct faculty member, set fault codes on a Cummins 6.7 diesel engine simulator in the diesel shop at TCAT Elizabethton.

TCAT Elizabethton has signed a “Get Ahead” education partnership agreement with Daimler Trucks North America LLC, (DTNA) and Triad Freightliner of Tennessee to provide trained diesel technicians for DTNA’s service network.  

A joint announcement of the education partnership was made by Ernie Leasure, general manager of the DTNA service network location in Kingsport, and Dean Blevins, director of TCAT Elizabethton. 

As part of the partnership agreement, TCAT Elizabethton students will be given free access to Freightliner, Western Star and Detroit engine web-based training, and will earn course credit toward Systems level certifications recognized by any DTNA service network employer. 

Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Ore, is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America.  It manufactures, sells and services commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star, Detroit, and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. 

For additional information, visit www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com. 

Blevins said the DTNA agreement was significant in that it recognizes the quality of diesel training taught at TCAT Elizabethton. 

The DTNA agreement follows on the heels of another announcement in August 2015 when TCAT Elizabethton became the first of 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to offer Mopar Level 1 Technician Certificates to graduates of automotive and diesel programs leading to possible employment at area Chrysler dealers and others throughout the U.S. 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC established the MOPAR CAREER AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM (CAP) LOCAL program in partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). 

TCAT Elizabethton has been designated a Regional NC3 Training Center, one of only four in the United States.