San Bernardino Valley College Heavy Duty Vehicle/Diesel Program Lab
San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), through its Heavy Duty Vehicle/Diesel Program, has joined the Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium (SCRTTC), a non-profit organization of 46 community college and transit agency members now statewide.
As an SCRTTC member, the college will be positioning itself to become a workforce training provider to the region’s public transportation agencies.
“We have developed a proven track record of successfully initiating innovative methods and collaborative means of developing and delivering transit specific training,” said David Stumpo, SCRTTC Executive Director. “As a member, SBVC will have full access to our development teams and committee structure, including subject matter expertise.”
One of the steps taken by SBVC’s Heavy Duty Vehicle program to better serve the transit industry in the region was prompted by advice from the program’s industry Advisory Committee and enabled by a grant from the Southern California Gas Environmental Champion’s program.
The Advisory Committee recommended they expand their program to include instruction in natural gas fueled engines.
Most transit agencies have converted from diesel fuel to cleaner natural gas in operating their bus fleets. SoCal Gas helped the program purchase a new generation engine now being installed in buses to reduce emissions to “near zero.”
Another major step was taken in the completion of its natural gas heavy-duty vehicle curriculum base on the new engine technology. This curriculum will allow the college to graduate automotive technicians with the advanced skills needed by their transit partners.
The Heavy Duty Vehicle/Diesel Program has since purchased its second Near Zero engine training package and is equipping its lab facilities for the advanced instruction.
SBVC will be contributing and receiving assistance through SCRTTC’s Educational Services Committee as well as benefitting from the subject matter expertise available to their faculty. It will play a vital role preparing students to meet the need for skilled technicians, as well as provide advanced skills training to existing workers, for the transit industry in the Inland Empire.
For more information, contact Albert Maniaol, Dean, Applied Technology, Transportation and Culinary Arts at San Bernardino Valley College.
