Diesel Technology
11 Months – Total Clock Hours: 1,106
2025 – 2026 Tuition: $12,720
Start date: 8/18/2025
Admission Requirements
Application Fee, Application for Admission, Enrollment Agreement, High School Diploma or GED, Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Clearance.
Program Overview
Students enrolled in this 11-month program will receive instruction in basic engines, transmissions, torque converters, power transmissions, brake systems, hydraulics, electrical systems, engine overhaul, fuel systems, and air conditioning. Instruction covers how to service troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair diesel engine powered equipment used in the trucking, agriculture, and heavy equipment fields. This program provides students with the opportunity to obtain their Commercial Driver License and Pennsylvania State Inspection with Category 3 (Medium to Heavy Bus/Truck) component. Other possible certifications include S/P2, MACS 609 Mobile Refrigerant Certification, and OBDII Statewide Emissions Certification.
Maximum # of Students Per Class: 20
Program starts in August. Please check with CPI Admissions and review the Program Enrollment Agreement for specific start dates.
Entry-Level Career Opportunities:
- Bus Mechanic
- Truck Mechanic
- Diesel Engine Specialist
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Courses In This Program Include:
Course Descriptions
DTT-110 – Intro to Diesel Technology/Drive Train Systems/CDL Theory
Students start the program with Intro to Diesel Technology/Drive Train Systems/CDL Theory course which covers the basics of shop safety and careers in the diesel field. After the safety section, the student moves into the tooling and hardware section. Here the students learn how to identify hardware and the use of the correct tools for the job performed. From there, the students will transition into the fundamentals and operation of heavy-duty drive line components. Here the students are taught the operation and how to service manual, automatic, and powershift transmissions, fundamentals and troubleshooting of torque converters, differential adjustment and repair, driveshaft, and universal joint service procedures, as well as troubleshooting for any drive line complaint. Students will also begin the theory portion to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License.
(84 Lecture Hours – 260 Lab Hours)
DEM-168 – Diesel Engine Fundamentals/Steering Suspension and Alignment/Heavy Diesel Maintenance and Inspection
In Diesel Engine Fundamentals/Steering Suspension and Alignment/Heavy Diesel Maintenance and Inspection course, students will start receiving more advanced training. They will start off with the fundamentals of basic diesel engines. In this course, the students are taught all the components and how they work together to allow a diesel engine to function properly. During this, they will also be taught how to identify and diagnose engine related complaints, including any fuel system issues. They will complete their engine training with a complete engine overhaul. Next in this course, the students will review the fundamentals of steering and suspension systems. The ability to inspect, adjust, and repair steering and suspension components is necessary for them to be able to obtain their PA State Inspection certification. They will receive their certification opportunity during this course, as well as the opportunity to obtain their OBD2 certification. To conclude the course, students will cover heavy equipment maintenance and repair fundamentals. During this portion of the course, they will be taught to identify problems before they become problems and how to properly service and grease all types of heavy equipment, including trucks and earth moving. This knowledge allows the students to better troubleshoot issues and determine the root cause of most failures. By the end of the course, students will have had the opportunity to finish their CDL training and complete the driving test to obtain their license. (86 Lecture Hours – 281 Lab Hours)
DEH-198 – Advance Equipment Systems/HVAC Systems and Certification
In Advance Equipment Systems/HVAC Systems and Certification course, students go into the more advanced portions of the program. They will cover the fundamentals of mobile HVAC systems. This covers the workings of each component, how to properly inspect and repair the component, and how to recharge and test system efficiency. At the end of the HVAC section, the students will prepare for and complete the EPA 609 certification test. This certification allows them to legally work on mobile air conditioning systems. From here the students will begin learning about air and hydraulic braking systems. They will cover the fundamentals and how to inspect, troubleshoot, and repair any hydraulic or air brake system. This includes the standard servicing of wheel end brakes. Next the course reviews electrical and electronic systems. The students will be taught the basics of electricity and how to make sound repairs to any electrical circuit. The troubleshooting portion will cover anything from alternators, starters, or lighting circuits, and go as in depth as troubleshooting CAN Bus communication errors and control module failures. From this point, the students will begin their hydraulic and hydrostatic portion of the course. They will be taught about the hydraulic portion, learning about pumps, actuators, valves, and their schematic symbols. Once they receive the fundamentals, the students will then move into the troubleshooting and repair portion for hydraulics. Here they will complete pressure and flow tests, as well as rebuilding hydraulic cylinders and testing the operation of hydraulic valves. Students will then begin the hydrostatic portion. Here students cover the fundamentals of hydrostatic drives, how to test the operation of the systems and decide the correct route for repair. The concept of air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical, and hydraulics is all the same with the use of different mediums. This method of putting those 4 sections together helps the students understand more advanced systems, so they can stay in the same mindset throughout this part of the course. To conclude the course and final term, the students will receive assistance with their career planning, as well as assembling their resume, to give them an advantage when job searching.
(78 Lecture Hours – 317 Lab Hours)