Diesel Truck Technology

The Diesel Truck Technology program offers training in the diagnosis, repair, service, and maintenance of medium and heavy-duty trucks and heavy-duty diesel equipment. It is an Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASEEF) certified program. The program offers students the opportunity to become adept at analyzing truck component failure, servicing the components, using testing procedures, and troubleshooting.

Preventative maintenance is stressed, as well as the importance of high-quality workmanship in order to prevent expensive downtime on diesel equipment. Classroom instruction is integrated with shop assignments to equip each student with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the diesel service field. The program’s mission is to prepare students to be competent entry-level technicians in order to gain employment and advancement opportunities as technicians in the diesel and medium/heavy truck industry.

• The program has master program accreditation from the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASEEF).
• Students have the opportunity to train for a Class B CDL license during the summer semester.
• Diesel Truck Technology is part of NWTI’s articulation agreement with Northwest Arkansas Community College.

According to the Arkansas Trucking Association, there are 4,850 trucking companies based in the state of Arkansas. Including heavy equipment and agriculture dealers in NW Arkansas makes the outlook for steady employment very promising. New technologies such as electric-powered trucks and equipment, hydrogen-powered trucks, and ever-changing vehicle braking and collision avoidance technology make this a technology-driven industry, not just a machine-based industry — so you will use computer skills along with mechanical skills daily.

Northwest Technical Institute is open to all persons who have completed high school or its equivalent and meet required entrance test scores. Enrollment is not complete until the following have been received and reviewed by the school:

• Completed Application for Enrollment
• $10.00 Application Fee
• Official transcripts of high school credit and graduation and/or GED scores, and official transcripts of previous post-secondary education
• Accuplacer® or ACT® exam scores (taken within the last three years). A $10.00 fee is assessed before taking the Accuplacer exam at NWTI.
• Immunization records

Federal Student Aid and Northwest Technical Institute reserve the right to evaluate the validity of a student’s high school diploma if the institution or FSA has reason to believe that the diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education. Due to limited space in certain programs, students may be required to complete an admissions interview as part of the selection process.

Minimum entrance scores. Students applying to Automotive Service Technology, Diesel Truck Technology, Electronics and Automation Technology, Information Systems, Industrial Maintenance and Ammonia Refrigeration Technology, and Welding Technology must submit minimum scores from one of the approved exams: ACT® Reading Comprehension 10 and Math 16, or Next Generation Accuplacer® Reading Comprehension 224 and Arithmetic 222 (or Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics 220).

Immunizations. Act 141 of 1987 requires that full-time students born on or after January 1, 1957 provide NWTI with two immunization records dated after the first birthday against measles and rubella, or an authorized waiver (religious or health reasons only) signed by the appropriate official.

Students who apply for Diesel Truck Technology must have a valid driver’s license by the application deadline.

Selection process. Applicants must have a completed application packet and a valid driver’s license by the application deadline. Instructors will schedule an interview for each applicant. Once all applicants have been interviewed, notification letters are sent: acceptance letters explain the next steps to enroll; alternate letters notify applicants that they may be contacted should an accepted applicant be unable to attend; denial letters notify applicants of their denial for enrollment in the Diesel Truck Technology program, and the NWTI admissions department will then contact these individuals to determine alternative educational opportunities.

Classes meet Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 3:00pm. The program runs three semesters and one summer term. The suggested schedule covers electrical systems, brakes, basic welding and Directed Study I in Semester I; drive train and axles, diesel engines and hydraulics in Semester II; preventative maintenance inspections, climate control and heavy-duty electronics in Semester III; and the advanced heavy-duty electrical lab and suspension and steering in the summer.

Application enrollment dates. Fall enrollment runs February 1 – May 31 and spring enrollment August 1 – November 1, with semester starts in fall 2026 and spring 2027.

2026-2027 calendar. New Student Orientation is August 10 and the fall semester begins August 17, 2026 (ending December 14). Spring orientation is January 12 and the spring semester begins January 19, 2027 (ending May 17). The summer semester runs May 19 – June 23, 2027, with graduation on June 24. For financial-aid purposes the academic year is two 16-week semesters and a 5-week summer term.

Estimated cost. The estimated cost of the program, including in-state tuition, fees, books and supplies, is $9,985.

Tuition. For 2026-2027, diploma-program tuition is $85.00 per credit hour in-state and $90.00 per credit hour out-of-state. Fees include a $10.00 application fee, and per-semester administrative ($75), facilities ($75), student support ($170) and technology ($140) fees for full-time students. Diesel program fees are a $200 textbook fee (fall), a $615 lab fee (fall and spring), a $300 summer lab fee and a $100 welding supply fee in the first semester.

Financial aid. The Financial Aid Office administers Title IV funding, the Pell Grant, as well as state aid programs; federal aid may cover school expenses, including tuition and fees, books, and supplies. To determine financial need, complete the FAFSA — NWTI’s school code is 014044. The Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be paid back. NWTI chooses not to take part in the Federal Direct Loan program; students interested in an alternative loan can apply for the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan® for Career Training.

Paying your bill. Payments are due the first day of class each semester, but NWTI allows students up to the census date (11th day of class in fall and spring, 5th day in summer) to pay or arrange payment. In extenuating circumstances, a Tuition Installment Plan may be granted for fall and spring, with a 25% down payment. Arkansas citizens aged 60 or older are exempt from tuition for credit courses.

Refunds. Diploma tuition is refunded 100% before the first class meeting, 75% during the first week, 50% during the second week, and not after the second week.

A Northwest Technical Institute Diesel Truck Technology graduate is qualified for a variety of job positions, including:

• Diesel Technician
• Parts Counter Sales
• Break Down Coordinator
• Warranty Clerk

Your NWTI Diesel Truck Technology training can lead to more certifications and advanced training opportunities from employers.

Associate degree pathway. NWTI does not offer associate degrees, but Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) will accept up to 30 hours of elective credit toward an Associate of General Studies or an Associate of Applied Science from this NWTI diploma once the diploma is completed.

Dress code. Industry-appropriate dress for the technical field is expected: leather boots are recommended, and uniform pants, uniform shirts and safety glasses are required. No tennis shoes are allowed.

Attendance. Any tardiness is counted as one hour absent, including leaving early for breaks, lunch or at the end of the day. Absences due to extenuating circumstances may be excused at the discretion of the instructors; students with 18 hours of unexcused absences may be dismissed from the program. Any student not scheduled for Technical Mathematics I or Technical Communications I attends lab in the Diesel Truck Department to build skills.

Course progression. Students must maintain a 70% (2.0) grade in each course. A student below 70% in any course is required to retake the entire diesel curriculum the following semester, although passing grades in Technical Communications I or Technical Mathematics I carry over.