Penske Truck Leasing recently held a dedication ceremony at Lincoln Tech in Columbia, Maryland, as the company branded a 1,000-square-foot multipurpose classroom at the school. The space will mainly be used during Lincoln’s Driving Your Performance course, which introduces students to various topics such as vehicle and engine systems, industry certifications, and career opportunities in the industry.

Over the last 10 years, Penske has hired more than 220 graduates from Lincoln Tech’s Columbia, Maryland, campus to work as truck maintenance technicians in its regional operations.

“The school represents a vital talent pipeline for our company’s operations across the Mid-Atlantic region. Properly trained technicians are key to providing uptime to support the transportation operations of our customers," stated Brian Borgoyn, Penske Truck Leasing area vice president.

Truck technicians are an integral part of keeping essential supply chains moving as nearly every good consumed in the U.S. is transported by truck. The trucking industry hauls more than 70% of all freight transported in the United States. Penske Truck Leasing is working with leading technical schools and related organizations such as SkillsUSA and the TechForce Foundation to help meet the current and future demand for technicians. Penske Truck Leasing operates and maintains one of the industry’s largest fleets with its truck maintenance technician workforce comprising about 8,800 of the company’s 37,000-plus associates.