FGC Donates Truck to Butler Diesel Technology Program

Butler’s diesel technology program recently received a major boost through the donation of a diesel truck by FGC Inc., a transportation company based in Park City, Kansas.

Joe Cordell, fleet manager at FGC, said the donation of the 2018 Kenworth T-680 was an investment in the next generation of technicians. “I’ve been in contact with Todd [Williams] about the diesel program for the last couple years, as we are always looking for new talent,” Cordell said. “We recently purchased new trucks and are selling old ones, so we thought now would be a great time to donate a piece of equipment and build a relationship with the diesel program [at the] school.”  

Diesel technology instructor Todd Williams said the donation came together quickly. “It happened very fast. I got Joe in contact with the [Butler Community College] Foundation, and they set it up,” Williams said. “It was out on a route on a Monday, and they cleaned it up, de-stickered it and brought it over to us on Tuesday.”  

Williams emphasized the importance of having a full truck in the shop. “Getting the whole truck is a huge deal for students because they’re able to work on the whole system,” he said. He added that in-service donations like this are a “game changer” in preparing Butler students with industry-ready skills. “We'll be addressing different aspects with students for a while, [because] everything on it is relevant.”  

Butler's diesel technology program, housed on the El Dorado campus, works closely with local industry partners such as Foley Industries, Truck Center Companies and GTG/Peterbilt to ensure students gain the necessary training for today’s workforce. As a result, students have a nearly 100% job placement rate after earning their two-year degree or one-year certificate.