Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute Honor Military Service Members as They Graduate from Technician Training at Fort Bliss

Program is the first-of-its-kind, on-base diesel-commercial vehicle technician career skills program in U.S. Army history

Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute honored the inaugural graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program. The first-of-its-kind, on-base diesel-commercial technician training program provides 12-weeks of industry-aligned training that leads directly to employment for military members transitioning to civilian life. 

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar thanks PTG Skills Program graduates for their military service. “When service members leave the military after they have given their all to our nation, we haven’t done enough as a country to provide these tremendous men and women the opportunity to use their incredible skills in the private sector and in our economy, so I am so grateful for collaborations like this that provide solutions to challenges we can’t solve on our own,” said Congresswoman Escobar.

Universal Technical Institute CEO Jerome Grant congratulates transitioning service members and thanks partners at Fort Bliss and Premier Truck Group. “We are excited to celebrate the first graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program,” said Grant. “This program is part of UTI’s deep and longstanding commitment to serve and support our country’s veterans through quality education in partnership with industry.”

Colonel Stuart James addresses the graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills program at Fort Bliss. “It is critical that we take care of the men and women who have selflessly taken care of our country,” said James. “We need to take care of the soldiers not only when they are in the Army but when they leave, to have partners like Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute to help our transitioning service members succeed in their next career is wonderful.”

Premier Truck Group (PTG) President Richard Shearing and Executive Vice President Scott Moss congratulate Cameron Champraya, who graduated from the inaugural class of the PTG Technician Skills Program at Fort Bliss and will go immediately to work for PTG in Salt Lake City, Utah after transitioning out of his military service at Fort Bliss.

The eight graduating students from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program at Fort Bliss will join the ranks of Premier Truck Group’s nearly 1,800 employees, including some 600 technicians. The company spans 25 commercial truck dealerships across the United States and Canada.

“This is an important day for the Army. It is critical that we take care of the men and women who have selflessly taken care of our country,” said Colonel Stuart James, garrison commander at Fort Bliss. “We need to take care of the soldiers not only when they are in the Army but when they leave, to have partners like Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute help our transitioning service members succeed in their next career is wonderful.”

The service members who completed the program were honored at a ceremony today at Fort Bliss. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) addressed the graduates, thanking them for their tremendous service to the country and noting they will continue to serve society in their new careers. Executives from Premier Truck Group and UTI were in attendance.

“It’s a privilege to be here, to congratulate these eight graduates in person and to thank you for the service you’ve provided our country. You are truly our nation’s greatest assets,” said Congresswoman Escobar (D-El Paso). “When service members leave the military after they have given their all to our nation, we haven’t done enough as a country to provide these tremendous men and women the opportunity to use their incredible skills in the private sector and in our economy, so I am so grateful for collaborations like this that provide solutions to challenges we can’t solve on our own.”

The Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program is tuition-free to military service members and features an on-base curriculum with hands-on technical training that meets CDC and health authority COVID-19 prevention guidelines. The training focuses on diagnostic paths and service technologies unique to Premier Truck Group. The recurring program’s next session begins April 19, 2021.

“It is our honor to hire our nation’s heroes,” said Rich Shearing, president of Premier Truck Group. “Our partnership with UTI and the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss gives us the opportunity to support service members in learning the skills to transition directly into rewarding civilian careers. We are pleased to offer immediate employment to these and future graduates from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program.”

“We are excited to celebrate the first graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program,” said Jerome Grant, CEO of UTI. “This program is part of UTI’s deep and longstanding commitment to serve and support our country’s veterans through quality education in partnership with industry.”

The eight graduating students from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program at Fort Bliss will join the ranks of Premier Truck Group’s nearly 1,800 employees, including some 600 technicians. The company spans 25 commercial truck dealerships across the United States and Canada.

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