Humberto Ramirez grew up wanting to learn more about his father’s water trucks and dump truck operation. In 2010, he joined the field working on trucks for ACT Trucking and later joined Western Truck Center in Stockton, California, in October 2013 as a diesel technician.
At Western Truck Center, he works on Mack and Volvo trucks and has completed the professional development path for both brands. Most recently, he started his path to becoming an engine master technician, which he chose based on one of his greater interests when it comes to trucks. “I feel like the engine is like the heart of the truck,” he says.
Why he took the course
Ramirez was the only one at his shop to take the course in July, and the first one in the past six years. His goals with the course are to advance his career in the industry. “You know what they say,” he says. “Knowledge is power, so the more we know the more chances of us fixing the truck right.” Ramirez plans to become a Mack engine master technician as well as a diagnostics master for both brands.
Ramirez found the material easy to understand, even virtually. Plus, he says the dealership was very supportive. He was able to do the course in his shop supervisor’s office because it was the quietest place. He liked the individual attention he received from the virtual class. “You had the option to message everyone in the class, or you can actually send a message straight to one of your instructors and he will reply back,” he says.
You had the option to message everyone in the class, or you can actually send a message straight to one of your instructors and he will reply back
Benefits of certification
Ramirez says the benefits of being master certified are two-fold. He grows in a career that he enjoys, and his shop has a diesel tech that knows the trucks better and works on them more efficiently. “We will get the trucks fixed the right way, and it will improve our time. We’re not trying to find information on how to fix the trucks. After we get trained, we know how and where to go to get that information,” he says.
Virtual learning is convenient
Ramirez also found the convenience of virtual learning to be a huge plus. “Virtual class was convenient because you didn’t have to travel. When you were done with your class, you went back to work,” he says, though he had to be careful with any distractions. Ramirez also says that in-person classes still have their place, such as with anything extremely hands-on like taking an engine apart.