On July 25, Continental Tire announced its new partnership with Universal Technical Institute (UTI). Universal Technical Institute is a leading provider of technical training for students seeking entry-level careers as technicians in the transportation industry. The partnership establishes Continental Tire as the official tire of UTI.

Universal Technical Institute student works on a tire. Continental Tire partnership
Universal Technical Institute student works on a tire; Photo CreditL Universal Technical Institute

As a part of the partnership, Continental Tire will provide tires, tire racks, and both campus and curriculum aides to each of Universal Technical Institute’s 13 locations to educate students about tire construction and performance. Additionally, Continental Tire’s proprietary Engage360 training modules will now be available for UTI instructors and students. The modules cover product information and tire basics and sales scenarios for the variety of tires offered. 

Outside of the classroom, Continental Tire and its authorized dealers will now be able to post job openings on UTI’s nationwide job board, available to UTI students and alumni. This will match UTI graduates with open automotive service positions nationwide, connecting Continental Tire’s customers with certified automotive technicians. 

The Growing Trade Industry

This partnership follows suit with the growing number of people going straight into trade jobs after high school. As the ECMC Group found, the likelihood of attending a four-year school sank 20 percent in the last two years—down to 51 percent from 71 percent. 

However, there are currently not enough workers with the right skills to fill the open trade jobs. For example, the American Trucking Association estimated that the truck driver shortage hit a historic high of over 80,000 drivers in 2021. A great deal of the trade labor shortage is due to experienced workers aging out of the field, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Programs like UTI could save some of these trade industries and put an end to labor shortages. Many high schools also provide industry-based curriculums to start preparing students early. For example, the newly opened Berkshire Local Schools includes career tech spaces for diesel mechanics and supports programs offered by a nearby career center.

For more transportation news, check out why so many flights are canceled this summer, best road trips around the world, the world’s first-ever holographic teleportation, and how to prepare your car for a road trip. 

For more information about Continental Tire, tune in to Tomorrow’s World Today’s “The Tires of Tomorrow” at 8:30 AM this Saturday, August 20 on the Science Channel, or watch the full episode below.