Fleet Management helps Vehicle Service Apprentices grow and thrive with new training initiative
The Hillsborough County Fleet Management department has implemented a new training program designed to develop their apprentices into highly skilled technicians.
To support this initiative, the department built out a 5,000-square-foot, fully equipped training facility with a dedicated classroom. Here, Vehicle Service Apprentices (VSAs) receive hands-on instruction that covers everything from basic preventative maintenance to advanced diagnostic concepts, complex repairs, and specialized equipment/accessories for the County's diverse fleet.
This program not only creates strong career pathways for VSAs that lead to technician positions but also strengthens the County's ability to maintain its 3,700 vehicles and critical emergency assets. Apprentices gain the knowledge and confidence needed to work on the vehicles that keep the community safe, ensuring they remain reliable and ready to respond.
Experienced technicians joining the department also benefit from this program, which helps them prepare for ASE and ASE Master certifications. This elevates the professional standards and expertise across the department.
A typical training session includes a classroom presentation focused on a specific component in the repair process, followed by hands-on experience in the shop using vehicles, equipment, tools, and a full range of parts.
Fleet Management sees this new program as an investment in both its team and in the residents of Hillsborough County. By providing this level of training, the department ensures a cost-effective, long-term approach to maintaining County assets, while providing technicians the skillsets and expertise to tackle the demands of servicing the wide range of vehicles and equipment that keep the community moving.