Kyrish, Navistar, and TSTC Form a Partnership That Benefits Students

Thanks to their efficiency, durability, and power output, diesel equipment plays a crucial role in many industries, ranging from transportation and agriculture to construction and marine industries.

Due to its significance in modern industrial settings, more effective diesel equipment technologies are constantly being improved and developed. However, while the more effective approaches are being developed by research and development, current technological iterations still need implementation, maintenance, and even repair.

This further underscores the importance of education and skilled expertise in diesel technology, which is why Kyrish Truck Centers is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Navistar and Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to offer unparalleled learning and new career opportunities for aspiring diesel technicians.

Background Information

Kyrish Truck Center was founded in 1976 when Ed Kyrish bought the Austin International Harvester branch. Ever since, the Kyrish family has been striving and working towards becoming the leading provider of commercial trucks, as well as all makes of truck parts and services.

This family-owned business grew into an absolute powerhouse that now owns 13 international truck dealerships, eight leasing locations, four Fleetrite part stores, a thriving Longhorn bus division across Texas, and seven Idealease locations. 

Kyrish Truck Centers also expanded their offering, which now also includes new and used commercial truck sales, rental and leasing options, dump trucks, reefer trucks, sleeper, day cab trucks, and flatbed trucks in Texas.

Kyrish Truck Centers are focusing on medium-duty, heavy-duty, and severe service-duty trucks, made by brand names such as Lonestar, CV, HX, MV, HV, RH, and LT. The company also offers both Navistar and Cummins engines for diesel-powered commercial trucks, as well as various truck makes, including Battle Motors Company, Hino, Isuzu Trucks, Miller wrecker bodies, and Mitsubishi Fuso trucks.

If you’re interested in paying Kyrish Truck Center a visit, you can find them in Austin, Bryan, Corpus Christi, Houston, Temple, Laredo, Pharr, San Antonio, and Victoria.

The New Partnership

As stated above, the ever-evolving world of diesel equipment technology requires highly educated and highly skilled expertise. Traditional education often does a really good job of laying the solid foundations for understating the basics of diesel equipment technology, thus equipping technicians with the necessary skills and broad knowledge.

However, diesel equipment technology is evolving at an exponential rate, propelled by changing and increasingly stringent laws and regulations demanding more efficient equipment with reduced emissions. As a result, the fundamental knowledge is no longer sufficient, underlying the necessity for specialized training programs.

Fortunately, Kyrish Truck Center recognized the issue that stems from the gap between the demand for and supply of highly skilled expertise, and the new partnership actually results from the increased need for quality technicians in service departments.

Since 2021, the company has actively sought the solution to the lack of quality technicians, and as a result of its partnership with Navistar and TSTC, the latter will offer a Truck and Bus certification career path as part of its diesel program, starting in Spring 2024.

This new program will be available in five out of ten TSTC campuses across Texas, located in Abilene, Breckenridge, Sweetwater, Brownwood, Harlingen, Marshall, Fort Bend County, North Texas, Waco, and Williamson County.

Industry partners will equip each location with the latest Navistar equipment, precision machining equipment, and welding technology. Additionally, TSTC will also gain four International Trucks, A26 diesel engines, and access to advanced diagnostics software for hands-on training of its students. 

The main goal of this partnership is to bring benefits to both TSTC graduates and the industry by offering specialized training, a distinct advantage in the job market for the former, and enhanced recruitment capabilities for the latter.

The Benefits

The partnership between Kyrish Truck Center, Navistar, and Texas State Technical College aims to increase the quality of education aimed at technicians, but it ultimately benefits everyone involved. Texas State Technical College gains Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) outlets from industry partners to train its students more effectively. 

These outlets are backed up by the most recent Navistar equipment, making Texas State Technical College more appealing to potential TSTC students while simultaneously providing more opportunities and coursework to those who are already enrolled at the college. 

On the other hand, Kyrish Truck Center promotes this particular program in high schools across Texas and offers financial aid to high school students who are interested in having a career in Diesel technology. In return, the company gains access to a steady stream of qualified technicians that would enhance the quality and efficiency of their service.

Together with equipment donations, partnerships like these allow Texas State Technical College to fulfill its mission and output a highly trained and skilled workforce for Texas State. Additionally, it also allows the college to redirect the funds that would otherwise have been spent on equipment to create better learning experiences for the students. 

However, they also address skill shortages and raise standards across the entire industry by offering specialized training for students, who will end up graduating and entering the workforce as highly skilled and knowledgeable technicians with better preparedness and understanding of the latest technologies. 

Ultimately, students are the ones who benefit the most. The program is designed to set up graduates for long-term success in the diesel technology industry by providing them with hands-on knowledge and expertise that’s subsequently crowned with International Certification. 

More importantly, the program also provides graduates with greater in-depth knowledge of International products. Additionally, since the industry is currently in demand for highly skilled expertise, comprehensive training also provides graduates with an advantage in the job market and better starting pay at already great-paying jobs. 

Final Thoughts

The partnership between Kyrish Truck Centers, Navistar, and Texas State Technical College is a well-thought-out response to various challenges the diesel equipment industry currently faces; particularly the lack of skilled technicians. 

By pooling their resources, these industry partners stand to propel the diesel equipment industry forward by raising the industry standards through specialized training. However, the partners aren’t the only ones who benefit; the program also benefits young TSTC graduates by enabling them to enter the workforce nearly immediately upon graduation and secure better starting pay.