Why Diesel Techs Are So Important

Diesel technicians play a central role in keeping freight moving, and their work helps fleets improve uptime, control costs and ensure equipment operates safely.

“One of the things we see pretty consistently is that the people with more mileage between breakdowns have lower repair and maintenance costs,” said Alex Leslie, senior research associate at the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). “That is the value of preventive maintenance.”

Controlling costs is always important, but according to the ATRI, higher equipment costs have created additional pressure for fleets to maximize uptime and extend asset life. At the same time, technicians are responsible for maintaining vehicle safety systems, diagnosing increasingly complex equipment issues and helping fleets maximize uptime in a highly competitive operating environment.

For fleet operators and maintenance leaders, the connection between technician expertise and uptime has become even more important as fleets look for ways to improve operational efficiency. “When a truck is down, it is not just costing in repairs, it is costing in time off the road,” Leslie said.

The Growing Need for Skilled Technicians

The industry continues to navigate a shortage of technicians. Leslie noted that trucking added 30% more drivers between 2013 and 2024, but the number of technicians increased by only 23%. The result is a widening gap between the number of trucks operating on the road and the number of technicians available to maintain them.

At the same time, fleets are managing increasingly sophisticated equipment that requires advanced diagnostic capabilities and ongoing technical training. Modern commercial vehicles include advanced safety systems, telematics, emissions technologies and digital diagnostics that require technicians to continually expand their skill sets, which has made ongoing technician training and development even more important.

ATRI found that nearly 62% of first-time technicians entered shops without formal training prior to hiring. Bringing those workers up to speed required an average of 357 hours of training and more than $8,200 in trainee wages alone. Even technicians with formal education often require additional development. ATRI found more than 30% of formally trained technicians were still unqualified in multiple core skill areas, requiring another 172 hours of training and nearly $4,000 in additional costs.

Providing additional training not only improves technician performance but also aids in recruitment and retention. “We found that the techs who are happy with feeling like they are continuing to grow are more likely to stay,” Leslie said.

ATRI found that technicians also value schedule flexibility, variety of work, opportunities for advancement and a strong workplace culture. “Interactions with management,” “variety of work,” and “interesting work” were among the factors most strongly associated with technician satisfaction and retention, according to ATRI’s findings.

Industry research continues to show that successful technician recruitment and retention strategies extend beyond compensation alone. Training opportunities, mentorship, workplace culture and career growth all play an important role in building a stable maintenance workforce.

“If you can get the right folks in the door to begin with — people who are already aligned with your culture, your workload and the kind of work you already do — it is worth it to get them trained,” Leslie said.

Penske’s Approach to Diesel Technicians

As a full-service truck leasing provider, Penske has several programs to recruit, retain and promote technicians across its 950+ locations. Penske's TechStart technician training program gives new entrants to the industry everything they need to launch a hands-on career as a diesel or collision repair technician.

Penske also provides ongoing training, including classroom, online and interactive virtual training, to help technicians advance through the tech ranks, offering pathways to management for those who want to progress further. Training covers technical skills for entry-level and advanced technicians as well as customer service and leadership training.

Penske is also leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to improve maintenance operations and increase uptime. Through connected vehicle data, predictive analytics and proactive diagnostics, technicians can identify potential issues earlier, prioritize repairs more efficiently and help prevent costly roadside breakdowns. These technologies also help streamline maintenance scheduling and give technicians faster access to vehicle health information, allowing them to work more efficiently while supporting safer and more reliable fleet operations.