Doug Crider found himself at a crossroads – remaining at a job he hated or risk to go in a new direction. “I thought, if I wait too much longer, it’ll be too late to start something new,” Doug explained. He enjoyed mechanical work for years and noticed a job posting on Indeed for a diesel mechanic at Pepsi MidAmerica. During his interview, Doug was introduced to Man-Tra-Con’s Registered Apprenticeship Program in Industrial Truck Maintenance and realized he could pursue training he would enjoy.

Pepsi MidAmerica hired Doug and helped him enroll in the Industrial Truck Maintenance Apprenticeship Program. Doug quickly realized he had found the right path. Man-Tra-Con provided the tools Doug needed to start as a diesel mechanic, allowing him to begin on-the-job training at Pepsi MidAmerica while earning a sustainable wage. “[The apprenticeship] helped me know this is the career I want versus just a job,” Doug said. “Great people are training me.”