Fleetio is launching a new Fleetio Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Scholarship Program, awarding six scholarships annually to automotive and diesel technicians and students pursuing ASE certifications. The announcement was made at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exposition in Nashville.
Fleet service organizations face a 30% to 40% annual turnover rate, raising concerns about retaining skilled technicians. The ASE Scholarship Program addresses financial incentives for fleets to train, upskill and reskill the next generation of maintenance technicians.
Belinda Rueffer, Fleetio's vice president of marketing said the Fleetio ASE Scholarship Program "provides an exciting opportunity for our customers to nominate deserving candidates and get the training and certification they need.”
ASE Education Foundation Vice President George Arrants said the scholarship could be a gateway to trucking jobs as 16% of high school automotive students want to work on heavy trucks. Since COVID, Arrants said, there has been a boost in enrollment in repair service programs.
Fleetio’s selection committee will evaluate nominations based on their commitment to advancing their careers in automotive and/or diesel repair. The program awards one grand prize scholarship of $3,000 to cover registration and testing fees for three ASE Professional-level Certification tests and tool upgrades. Five runner-up recipients each receive a $1,000 scholarship to assist with certification testing costs, tools or other supplies.
Rueffer noted the program was not exclusively open to entry level technicians, adding applicants could be pursing master certifications, or currently certified techs seeking new certifications.
Active Fleetio customers can nominate an automotive technician or student pursuing ASE certification, whether through the Professional-level Certification tests or an ASE Accredited Training Program. Nominations for the Fleetio ASE Scholarship Program are open March 31 through May 1.
