Like the title says, I'm looking to get into a Diesel Technology program before years end. My two options currently are Lincoln Tech in Denver or WyoTech in Laramie. My goal with the training is to eventually get into heavy equipment / oilfield equipment repair and fabrication and possibly one day start a business. I have previously attended a 9 month professional welding course and have several years of shipyard pipe and structural welding under my belt. A little about me: I'm a vet. The program will be covered under what remains of my GI Bill (cost thankfully won't be a large consideration in my decision.) I've been working oilfield for the past couple years after leaving the shipyard and while not out on pads operating equipment I was in the shop fabricating and repairing parts, trucks, pumps etc. I found that I enjoyed the shop side very much. Are there generally held industry impressions of either program? What are your thoughts on them?
Thank you for your service. I am a vet also. I went to University of Northwestern Ohio. Great school and they gave an additional 10% discount to military. Had younger kid in my class that went to Wyo-tech and he didn't give it very good reviews. Diesel Technology | UNOH check them out.
NADC is a Lincoln tech right? Nashville Auto Diesel College, They were anyway I think they changed name. Anyway, they were good back in early 2002, been a while, might check on it.
I have a family so, unfortunately, someplace outside my geographic area won't work. Sauer, I've heard the same about WyoTech. Some say its great, others say not so much. More towards the "not so much" though is what I most often get. I wonder, with a dedicated diesel program what is there to screw up? I know with my welding program the folks who put the least amount of effort into it were always the ones complaining the loudest about the program itself. I wonder if the same rule applies to WT or if it just carries a generally unfavorable opinion overall in the industry.
I never went to either but I will tell ya this: a mechanic course is worth it. Sure you learn on the job but the theory of how stuff works is very important. This job is evolving and being able to spin a wrench has become much less significant when compared to having the ability to think logically and troubleshoot.
I believe the more education the better. I went to a two year heavy equipment diesel tech program in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario over 25 years ago. I started an apprenticeship at my local International Truck dealership after graduation. Many will argue that a college education isn't required, and it isn't, but... you will hit the ground already running and your career will advance that much faster as your base or foundation knowledge will be leaps and bounds better than all the other 1st year apprentices. Any good company will recognize that and reward you according. I have always done well and know going to a good school is part of the reason why. As for the schools you mentioned, I cannot directly comment on them simply because I don't know of them.
