Octavia McClain / Roundup
Snap-on Industrial, in partnership with Pierce College, gave a Fleet Maintenance Training Seminar on Wednesday in the Great Hall .
Since 1923, Snap-on has provided tools to mechanics to service fleets and automobiles.
With only men in attendance for the seminar, they worked on vehicles, either for independent shops or government agencies. They also learned about diagnostic procedures — primarily on diesel — according to Jose Luis Fernandez, dean of career and technical education.
“Snap-on is to the automotive-technology and diesel-technology industry what Microsoft is to the computer industry,” Fernandez said.
“The entire city of Los Angeles is moving toward being more energy efficient,” he added. “This seminar is to introduce the kind of tools these companies will need to be in compliance with the new regulations.”
With the passage of Measure J, Pierce received more than $400 million in bond money, part (of) which will go to the extension of the automotive program, according to Fernandez.
“The purpose of this…today is to help (students) to become better skilled at working on vehicles and more productive,” said Fredrick Brookhouse, business development manager for Snap-on.
Jose Landeros, 18, a student in the Automotive Service Technology program, entered the program while still attending high school.
“The automotive program has kept me out of trouble,” Landeros said.
Landeros plans to receive an associate degree and work at a friend’s automotive shop, and to open his own automotive shop later in the future.
Some public agencies also in attendance were the L.A. Department of Water and Power, the L.A. County Fire Department, the L.A. City Fire Department, the California Air Quality Board, the L.A. Police Department, the California Bureau of Automotive Repair and the L.A. Unified School District.
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