CLEARWATER, Fla.-- The MITER Foundation recently donated a decommissioned truck with a non-working engine to the Diesel Maintenance Technician program at Pinellas Technical College (PTC) in Clearwater. The contribution provides students in the program with a hands-on learning opportunity for rebuilding an engine, while also helping to address the shortage of trained diesel mechanics.

The Diesel Systems Technician 1 and 2 program at PTC is a 1,050-hour course that covers diesel engine fundamentals, including diagnosis, repair, and overhaul, as well as steering, suspension, and HVAC systems.

The program prepares students for ASE certification and lasts approximately 11 months. The curriculum is divided into modules, such as Diesel Engine Mechanic/Technician Helper and Diesel Electrical and Electronics Technician.

To celebrate the donation, team members from MITER Brand’s Venice, Florida location joined students and faculty on the PTC Clearwater campus to officially hand over the keys for the vehicle.

“The diesel mechanic shortage isn’t on the horizon; it’s a problem we’re facing now,” said Karen Previti, MITER Brands Transportation & Logistics Manager and MITER Foundation Venice Outreach Committee member. “Through this truck donation, our goal is to give students a real hands-on learning opportunity, from rebuilding an engine to the overall schematics of a commercial vehicle, that will carry them into successful careers. The MITER Foundation is incredibly proud to support programs like this one, and we can’t wait to see how students take on the challenge to learn and grow.”

Since the MITER Foundation’s inception in 2015, the organization has expanded from helping local charities to a nationwide presence, partnering with organizations to drive the MITER Brands people-first culture in communities throughout the country.

With the help of its team members, the foundation has donated food to and volunteered at local food banks, provided windows and doors at no cost for adaptable housing constructed for veterans, volunteered with local children’s hospitals, and provided ongoing financial support to children’s cancer research, among other initiatives.