New SF College diesel mechanic program to fill critical need in high-demand field
August 12, 2025
Representatives from Santa Fe College, Alachua County Public Works, CareerSource Center North Florida and Florida’s Army Reserve helped kick off the college’s Heavy Diesel Mechanic Training and Certification Program at its official ribbon cutting at the Alachua County Public Work’s Fleet Main Shop north of Gainesville.
The 2-year certificate program will occupy two bays of the facility to give hands-on training to 11 students in its first cohort as it prepares qualified diesel technicians to help alleviate an historic shortage of skilled labor in the industry. The program has a projected enrollment of 18 students per semester.
“This is a special day,” Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie said. “I often think ‘What are we doing to affect lives way into the future?’ I’m a big believer in collective impact; you want to stretch those resources as far as you can. I try to think, ‘What partners can we find to help accelerate our efforts?’”
Broadie acknowledged the collective efforts of the Santa Fe College academic team, SF Office for Advancement, Alachua County commissioners and CareerSource North Central Florida for partnering to create a curriculum that looks to fill 25,000 jobs for the State of Florida that pose to fetch an entry-level salary of $60,000 annually.
“We’re going to recruit hard for this,” Broadie said. “And we’ll continue to launch workforce programs that match industry needs, ones that offer students sustainable careers.”
State of Florida labor data shows the demand for qualified diesel technicians is experiencing an impressive average annual growth of 3.1% from 2024, with a 2023 median hourly wage of $25.89.
“With 24,916 employment opportunities anticipated in Florida over the next eight years, by investing in this program we are directly ensuring our residents are poised to seize upon this need in our labor market,” said Alachua County Commissioner “Chuck” Chestnut IV, a member of the CareerSource Dual County Workforce Development Council.
A decision by the Army Reserve to locate their Equipment Concentration Site in East Gainesville in 2026 served as a significant driver behind the effort to create this specialized program.
Beau Morris, the lead instructor for the new curriculum, said the Heavy Diesel Mechanic Training and Certification Program was the recipient of several heavy diesel vehicles from Florida State College at Jacksonville, who eliminated their diesel mechanic program.
“Getting these vehicles will really help us get these students trained in a skillset that is unfortunately aging out; there aren’t a whole lot of people coming into this field,” Morris said. “From before COVID until just the last month, Alachua County has been down several diesel technicians. It’s a need that will continue to grow as we go forward.”
"CareerSource North Central Florida is committed to connecting talent with opportunity," said Phyllis Marty, CEO of CareerSource North Central Florida. "This program is a prime example of proactive workforce development, offering a clear pathway to high-wage, high-demand careers that will strengthen our regional labor market and support local businesses."
The program is targeted to medium-heavy diesel equipment of 4,500 pounds and up, Chester Cowart, program faculty for the new curriculum, explained. “Obviously, there’s a lot of specialized training needed to care for this type of machinery, and this program will cover the foundation of fundamentals,” he said. “With these tools, our students will be receiving the gold standard of simulation.”
The teaching bays will include state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and simulators that allow students to troubleshoot solutions while faculty throw fault codes at them. Cowart said the program will continue to tailor and modernize the certification content by creating an advisory committee of industry partners who stay abreast of the latest emerging technology and training approaches.
“These teaching tools were purchased through a $1.35 million Florida Workforce Capitalization Grant,” said Santa Fe College Interim Vice Provost Melody Graveen. “They will provide a high-paying skillset for Santa Fe College students hoping to fill a crucial labor gap, but also they will further enhance Santa Fe College’s dual enrollment programs.”
