After years of planning and industry backing, Calhoun Community College is enrolling its first-ever class of diesel technology students this fall – a milestone years in the making for the Decatur school and the trucking industry that helped build it.

The new program is the first postsecondary diesel tech program for the Huntsville/Decatur area and one of a total of nine offered across the state by the Alabama Community College System (ACCS).

The program is now accepting its first class of students for the fall, with classes starting next month. As of today, 10 students have enrolled for classes, with five more spots available.

The new diesel technology program will prepare students in the Rocket City Region for high-demand careers in trucking and other industries with hands-on instruction in diesel engines, fuel and emissions systems, hydraulics, electronic controls, heavy vehicle systems, and advanced diagnostics using industry-standard equipment in a modern training environment. 

“We’re going to teach basically anything from small trucks, like an F-250, three-quarter ton and up—small trucks, semi-trucks, heavy equipment, agriculture.”

The program was designed with one goal in mind: producing graduates who are ready to work.

Leading the program is Brandell Fleming, an industry veteran who brings a rare combination of real-world mechanical expertise and higher education leadership to the role.

Mr. Fleming has spent decades in the field while also building extensive experience in higher education, workforce development, student advising, and technical instruction.

He earned a Master of Science in Workforce Education Leadership from Mississippi State University and has worked across nearly every level of the diesel and heavy equipment industry, from technician and field service specialist to shop leadman, service manager, fleet manager, trainer, and business owner.

“We’re going to teach basically anything from small trucks, like an F-250, three-quarter ton and up—small trucks, semi-trucks, heavy equipment, agriculture,” Fleming says. “We’re going to kind of touch on a little bit of everything.”

Fleming says diesel engines power commerce in many vocational fields, everything from trucking, farming, manufacturing and industrial.

“I’m super excited about (this program),” Fleming said. “The diesel world is kind of a hidden career. We’re able to have students come in, show them kind of all the different fields that they can go into.”

And graduates can make great money right out of college. According to Alabama Trucking and its My Trucking Future workforce campaign, the median income for a diesel technician is $85,951, with new techs often starting near that.

Helping Each Other

“Diesel techs keep the industry moving safely and efficiently.”

The partnership between Alabama Trucking and the ACCS is a prime example of effective workforce development, building a stronger community and economy. Mark Colson, president of Alabama Trucking, says trucking employs more than 130,000 Alabamians, and diesel technicians are among the most in-demand jobs for the industry.

“Diesel techs keep the industry moving safely and efficiently,” he says. “Thier commitment to keeping trucks and equipment in top form with preventative maintenance and repairs is what allows drivers to deliver for the economy. It’s a key role, and they are paid very well to do it.”

Colson and his team at Alabama Trucking were key in helping Calhoun get the program off the ground with advice and networking. “As we have with the entire community college system, we’ve supported their mission with connections to our members who provide feedback, advice, additional training opportunities like internships, donating equipment, and, of course, jobs for graduates. It’s an incredible opportunity for each of us to help each other.”

Alabama Trucking even created a workforce development program that attracts job seekers with storytelling and information on getting training. With funding from the Alabama Trucking Foundation, the workforce development campaign, My Trucking Future (MTF), launched in the fall of 2024. It proudly promotes industry jobs and clarifies and cultivates career pathways for the next generation of trucking professionals.

Users can visit the site to learn about the many job opportunities available and find links and information about schools in their area, creating direct inroads and connections for job seekers to the state’s education system, particularly with the state community college system. More importantly, they can listen to the powerful testimonials of real professionals who work in trucking in Alabama.

Meanwhile, Alabama Trucking’s dedicated team of outstanding industry professionals, known as the Alabama Road Team, visits local high schools and other organizations across the state to promote driver safety, especially around large commercial vehicles. Part of our message is about the many job opportunities in our industry and how the community college system can provide training for an exciting and rewarding career.

Meanwhile, Alabama Trucking members have supported the new program, too. Last summer, Truckworx donated a 2019 Kenworth T680 High Roof Sleeper Cab tractor, along with multiple wheel and tire assemblies that students will use in brake, steering, suspension, and preventive maintenance instruction. Students will also install a replacement engine into the truck as part of the diesel engine and lab coursework, gaining real overhaul and repair experience in the process. Back in 2021, Truckworx donated a 2016 Kenworth T680 daycab to Wallace State’s diesel tech program.

As the program grows, Calhoun is actively seeking additional partnerships with OEMs, dealerships, fleets, and other industry leaders interested in helping train the next generation of diesel technicians. 

Partnership opportunities include equipment donations, internship and apprenticeship programs, guest speakers and facility tours, OEM diagnostic software access, specialized training support, and workforce development collaborations. 

The college is especially seeking donations of engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems, electrical components, heavy equipment, agricultural machinery, generators, and other diesel-powered systems for instructional use.

Click here for more information about Calhoun’s Diesel Technology program or partnership opportunities.