Vehicle Maintenance & Light Repair Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

San Bernardino County Fleet Management (Fleet) collaborating with the County’s Workforce Development Department, Human Services CALWorks (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) developed an entry-level automotive mechanic training program for youth and adults. The program is managed by San Bernardino’s Inland Career Education Center (ICEC) and Career Institute. The curriculum includes classroom instruction in basic job finding skills like how to prepare for and dress for a job interview as well as actual hands-on shop experience in basic automotive inspections and services. Class size is limited to 15 students, with each receiving textbooks (at no cost to them), work boots and a “basic starter tool kit” and tool box. Funding is provided by CALWorks with Fleet providing two real-world work bays in a fully productive shop during the afternoon shift for the hands-on training. Classes span 6 weeks, three days per week and eight-hour days. “Training days” are split between classroom training at ICEC and Fleet’s garage. The ICEC instructor accompanies students during the entire day with a Fleet employee overseeing the shop activities. The “hands-on” activities include familiarization with shop policies and standards, safety, equipment operation such as vehicle hoists and completion of work orders. To graduate, each student is required to complete a vehicle safety check, perform basic services such as brake and tire inspections/repairs, complete a lube service and record their work in Fleet’s information system within 30 minutes. Fleet provides County vehicles that are at the end of their useful service life and are pending sale (none of these vehicles are returned to service). Graduates from the first class now work in the automotive field, with the “top performing” student being hired by Fleet. In the traditionally male-dominated world of automotive services, the top performer in the first graduating class was a minority female.