FROM GRADUATION TO KEEPING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD DURING COVID-19

Hardworking, determined and passionate are just a few words that describe UTI grad Dylan Bansi.

At just 19 years old, Dylan is working as a diesel technician and is helping to keep trucks on the road during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ As a new graduate in the workforce, he’s stepped into a critical role and is serving both his community and our country as we navigate these challenging times.

Keep reading to learn all about Dylan’s incredible story and the work he’s doing to help during the COVID-19 crisis.

Dylan’s Story

Dylan grew up around the diesel industry. His mother and father’s side of the family each own dump truck businesses, so his interest in diesel trucks was sparked at a young age.

While in high school, Dylan started helping his dad more in the garage. Every Saturday morning, he would wake up at 5am and go to work with him. “I learned something new every day,” he shares.

The more Dylan worked on diesel trucks, the more he fell in love with it. This eventually led him to the decision to turn his passion for diesel into a full-time career. In order to get there, he knew he needed the right training.

Choosing UTI

One day, Dylan came across a Facebook ad for Universal Technical Institute and filled out the form to request information. Shortly after, he was contacted by an admissions representative who told him more about UTI’s programs and the Exton, Pennsylvania, campus, which was the campus closest to him.

Dylan initially inquired about UTI out of curiosity, but as he learned more about the school, he knew it was the right place for him. When he told his parents about UTI, they gave him their full support. “My parents were onboard from the jump,” Dylan says.

After graduating from high school, Dylan decided to enroll in the Diesel Technology program at UTI Exton. He was the first in his family to further his post-secondary education. “I wanted to step out and be different,” he shares.

During his time at UTI, Dylan commuted 2.5 hours each way to get to and from campus. His days were long, but he was determined to complete his training. He also worked while he was a student and would pick up shifts whenever he could.

“When I tell employers what I’ve done, it really sparks their interest because it shows I’m hardworking,” Dylan shares. Having a good work ethic is one of the most important things employers look for, and Dylan’s time at UTI demonstrates this.

Dylan’s favorite part of his UTI experience was getting to know his instructors. “While there were a lot of students on campus, you could still get one-on-one time with the instructors whenever you needed help,” he says. He also loved the amount of time he was able to spend in the lab getting hands-on training.

From UTI Grad to Peterbilt Technician

After graduating from UTI in January of 2020, Dylan started his career with Peterbilt. He graduated on January 10. Then, on January 20, he began working full-time at the Peterbilt store in Maryland. ⁵

“When I started at UTI, I knew Peterbilt was the company I wanted to work for,” Dylan shares. He’s always been familiar with the brand, as Peterbilt trucks are what both of his parents use and stand by.

Peterbilt’s Maryland store is one of the smallest, yet also one of the busiest. They take on a lot of big jobs, which Dylan was surprised by when he first started.

As an entry-level tech, Dylan expected to be doing a lot of preventative maintenance (PM) services, like typical oil changes. But in the four months he’s been there, he’s only completed around five PM services. He’s had the opportunity to jump right in and help with the larger jobs assigned to the team.⁶

A significant part of Dylan’s role involves interacting with customers, which he’s grateful he learned to do in his training. “UTI helped me a lot when it comes to communicating with customers,” he says. In addition to knowing the mechanics, success in this industry requires being able to explain things to customers and provide exceptional service.

Dylan is also grateful he learned the importance of professionalism at UTI. While his instructors were strict about always dressing and behaving professionally, this preparation has really helped Dylan in his work environment today.

Keeping America’s Trucks on the Road

Shortly after Dylan started working for Peterbilt, the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting our world. While many industries have had to shut down, the diesel industry is helping to keep our society and economy in motion during this time.

Currently, Dylan is still working eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. He and his team are following strict safety procedures, and while work was slow at first, their schedule has picked up and is just as busy as it was before.

According to Dylan, diesel technicians are incredibly important during this time because they’re keeping big 18-wheelers on the road. “These are the ones carrying goods during this pandemic,” he says. His shop is currently prioritizing over the road trucks to ensure they are on the road delivering goods where they’re needed most.

“It feels good knowing you’re following your passion while helping the world right now,” Dylan shares. “We’re not only standing behind the Peterbilt brand, but we’re helping out the ones in need the most.”

Dylan shares that in addition to diesel technicians, automotive technicians are also playing an important role during this crisis. Doctors, firefighters, police officers and other essential workers are having to go to work, and they still need their vehicles maintained to ensure they can get to where they need to go.

Overall, Dylan is glad he’s chosen a career path that has allowed him to continue working during this time. Due to the current state of our world, his skills are needed now more than ever. When things go back to normal, he’s expecting his shop to be even busier, as there will be more vehicles on the road.

What It Takes to Succeed in the Industry

According to Dylan, success in this industry requires hard work and motivation.

He encourages anyone interested in becoming a technician to hit the books hard in order to gain a strong foundation of knowledge. While much of this career is hands-on, it’s important to take time to learn the concepts you need to know before putting them into action in the lab.

Dylan also recommends treating school just as you would work. Show up on time and always be willing to learn and work hard. You get out of it what you put into it!

In the future, Dylan hopes to continue gaining experience in the diesel industry. Later down the road, he eventually wants to open his own shop and build his customer base. He hopes to become a go-to resource in the diesel industry that his customers come to again and again.

With everything Dylan has already accomplished at such a young age, he has a bright future ahead of him. We can’t wait to see where he goes next!

Special thanks to Dylan and all of the technicians stepping up to help during the COVID-19 crisis. You’re making an incredible impact, and we couldn’t do it without you!

Learn In-Demand Skills at UTI

From steering and suspension systems to electronic systems and technology, UTI’s 45-week Diesel Technology program is designed to teach you the skills you need to pursue a career in the diesel industry. To learn more, visit our program page and request information today.