Liebherr USA Co. has launched a new partnership with Virginia Beach, Va.-based Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). The manufacturer will host up to six students each year who are attending ATI in the Heavy Vehicle Technology program.
ATI’s Heavy Vehicle Technology program offers diesel repair training in a hands-on shop environment where students have the opportunity to work on manual and automatic engines ranging from 400 to 12,000 lb., developing skills that could lead to a rewarding career as a heavy equipment or diesel mechanic.
Liebherr USA is sponsoring the hydraulics program at ATI and has made an L 526 wheel loader available for training students in ATI’s hydraulics classes. This partnership allows ATI students to become Liebherr certified upon program completion. Once students have finished the co-op program, Liebherr is offering a signing bonus of 50% of tuition charges for eligible new hires who are offered and accept full-time employment with the company.
The first group of students entered the program in January 2021. While in the co-op program, they are part-time Liebherr employees, working in the earthmoving and mobile cranes divisions repair shops in Newport News, Va., getting hands-on training and experience on the subjects they’re learning in the classroom.
“This partnership not only helps to build a pipeline of future talent, it exposes all of ATI’s students to the Liebherr brand, which allows us to build a future workforce of Liebherr employees,” said Vicki Wishon, Liebherr USA human resources manager.