JC
Joe Cochran
  • Toluca, IL

Joe Cochran Completes Internship for ICC Diesel Power Program

2014 Jun 30

Joe Cochran, of Toluca, completed an eight-week internship at Kelly Sauder Rupiper Equipment, a John Deere dealer in Streator as part of the Diesel Powered Equipment Technology Program at Illinois Central College. The supervised, on-the-job training provides students the opportunity to apply the skills they have acquired in the classroom to the real world. In addition to sharpening their technical skills, students also learn the importance of good work ethic. As part of the internship, the students perform many of the same tasks as full-time technicians.

"Today is the age of the highly trained and educated diesel powered equipment service technician," says Michael Daugherty, instructor in the ICC program. "Service and repair of electronic controlled diesel engines, powershift transmissions, load-sensing hydraulics, and on-board diagnostics require training beyond high school. Given the facts of high dollar value of equipment invested by customers, losses associated with downtime, and record technological advances in equipment design and operation, a serious shortage of qualified technicians remain."

Students in the program complete one-and-a-half years of intensive training in electrical systems, electronics, diesel engines, transmissions, air conditioning, and diagnostic testing. Graduates of the program earn an associate in applied science degree and have opportunities to seek careers in the diesel powered equipment technology industry.