Effingham Truck Sales Assists w/Truck Class Startup at LLC

(FROM LEFT: TIM VAN DYKE, CHAIR OF THE LAKE LAND COLLEGE TECHNOLOGY DIVISION; BRIAN MADLEM, AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR; MARK STEPPE, GENERAL MANAGER FOR EFFINGHAM TRUCK SALES; AND ROB WORKMAN, DIRECTOR OF SERVICES FOR EFFINGHAM TRUCK SALES)

The Technology Division at Lake Land College is piloting a medium/heavy duty truck class through its Automotive Technology Program. The three-week class will begin during the summer term, which starts June 10.

“We are starting with a few classes in this field with the hope creating a certificate program and eventually an associate degree,” explained Tim Van Dyke, chair of the Technology Division.

To help jump start the program, Effingham Truck Sales, Inc. donated a 2000 International diesel truck to the Lake Land College Foundation. The truck was then donated to the Automotive Technology Program to use for the classes.

“We’re very happy to be a part of starting this program because there is a growing nation-wide need for good medium and heavy technicians who can work on vehicles like these,” said Mark Steppe, general manager of Effingham Truck Sales, Inc.

The initial class will focus on repair and maintenance of medium/heavy duty trucks. Medium/heavy duty trucks are classified as such based on the truck’s gross vehicle weight rating. The classes will cover trucks that with gross vehicle weight ratings that range from 14,001 – 80,000.

For more information about these classes, contact Van Dyke at (217) 234-5313 or tvandyke@lakeland.cc.il.us.