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From a young age, Matthew Logan has been doing what he loves.

“Growing up, I loved trucks,” Logan says. “I used to work on trucks with my dad all the time.”

As he got older and it came time to choose a career, Logan already had an idea of what he wanted to do: continue working on trucks. In 2004, Logan enrolled at Metropolitan Community College. It was close to home and had the exact program he was looking for: Diesel Technology. The program helps to prepare students for a career in the transportation industry and working with large trucks such as 18-wheelers.

During his time as an MCC student, Logan says everyone was willing to take the time to help him succeed.

“Everybody was always so helpful,” he says. “The instructors invested time in the students. They made it a good experience for me. They always help you and gave you time to grow and learn if you needed the help.”

While still an MCC student, Logan began a part-time job with Fremont Contract Carriers, a truck fleet company.

“We own our own trucks and trailers and have customers in various parts of the country,” Logan explains. “I started here while still taking diesel classes and was part-time through college then came here and have been full-time ever since. It will be 13 years here this fall.”

Logan is a diesel technician on Fremont Contract Carriers’ floor, making sure the trucks are in working order before they go out on long hauls. He is also a backup foreman.

“I keep the trucks rolling around here,” he says. “I like the satisfaction of when you diagnose a tough problem and are able to fix it. I also really like the comradery with the guys here.”

Logan says that his education at MCC helped him feel prepared and ready when he started at Fremont Contract Carriers. His education gave him the confidence he needed to be successful.

“They helped kickstart my career,” Logan says. “It gave me a good baseline of what to expect. There were a lot of questions that would pop up here that I could ask teachers at MCC. It gave me a good overview of what I wanted in this career field and what to shoot for. When I came into this career field, I wasn’t as confident. MCC helped push me to grow each day.”

Logan Named 2017 Technician of the Year

Logan’s hard work has paid off. He was named the 2017 Technician of the Year by the Nebraska Trucking Association. Logan was honored by the award, as he was nominated by his coworkers.

Over the years, Logan has started going to many career days at high schools, telling students about his job and giving them insight on what a career in the transportation business could look like for them.

“I’m trying to give back and help make kids’ decisions easier,” he says. “It’s a way for me to give back and help, like people helped me.”

For those students considering MCC, Logan has only positive things to tell them about the program and how it helped him get to where he is now.

“Just to see how it’s grown – it’s really become a top-notch program,” he says. “How MCC values those kids, they value you there and want you there. You’re your only limiter there. They give you all the resources you need. It’s up to you to run with them.”

To learn more about the Diesel Technology program, visit mccneb.edu/diesel or call 531-MCC-2400.