Thursday, April 25, 2013

Truck and Coach Technician Co op Takes Two Years to Complete

A Truck and Coach Technician has a multitude of responsibilities in the automotive industry, dealing specifically with motor coaches, heavy trucks and truck trailers. Among these duties are: testing systems and components using computerized diagnostic and other testing devices to diagnose and isolate faults; adjusting, repairing or replacing parts and components of truck and bus systems including fuel, brake, steering and suspension, engine and drive train, emission control and exhaust, cooling and climate control, and electrical and electronic systems using hand tools and other specialized automotive repair equipment; performing scheduled maintenance service, such as oil changes, lubrications and tune-ups; and more.

At Centennial College, those interested in this field can obtain an Ontario College Diploma and meet the qualifications needed to enter the field through the Truck and Coach Co-op Apprenticeship. Those interested in this offering must have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent. In addition, they must have the English 12 C or U credit or equivalent or skills assessment. Lastly, students may also be required to present a resume and questionnaire that describes their experience and aptitude. Successful applicants must be eligible to work in Ontario and have an Ontario driver’s license. Please note that the students in this program are already working in the field when they attend.

Once they have been accepted to the Truck and Coach Technician offering, students have two choices in how they meet the requirements to graduate. The first is called day-release. In this format, students spend one day of the five-day working week on campus. They do this for 32 weeks through the school year, experiencing between a six and eight hour school day during that time. The second training option for Truck and Coach Technician program completion is block release. Students who opt for this format attend apprenticeship schooling three times for three advancing phases.

Whether they choose day release or block release, all Centennial College Truck and Coach Technician students experience a combined in-school delivery of theory and practical (lab) lessons. Among the specific auto mechanic courses are Engine Systems, Brake Systems, Electrical Systems, Fuel Systems, Truck and Coach Logistics, Preventative Maintenance, and more, which are presented in advancing stages.

Additionally, while on campus, Truck and Coach Technician students in Canada learn about applied mechanics, vehicle dynamics as well as component design and repair as it applies to the apprenticeship curriculum. Lastly, students benefit from learning about the business aspects of the Truck and Coach Technician field through topics such as organizational behaviour, trade practices and fixed operations management. What makes Centennial College’s auto mechanic courses special is that they are conducted from Ashtonbee Campus. This location houses the province’s largest transportation training centre and students obtain hands-on practice on truck and coach assemblies in fully equipped labs. With the knowledge they obtain in their Truck Technician Training, students can confidently head out to their co-op placement to apply what they have learned, gain new knowledge, network and learn to deal with a wide range of customers.

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