Academics
Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology
Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology is a two-year technician training program designed to prepare students to become entry-level Caterpillar Dealer Service Technicians for the dealerships that buy, sell, and repair Caterpillar equipment. In this program, you’ll learn how to work on many types of Caterpillar machines and equipment including: agricultural, construction, and earthmoving equipment to name a few.
This program combines classroom work in state-of-the-art labs with real-world experience through internships. In class, you’ll learn about engine fundamentals, machine hydraulics, Caterpillar fuel systems, machine electrical systems, transmissions and torque converters, undercarriage/final drives and more. You’ll also serve four paid eight-week internships at your sponsoring Caterpillar dealership to experience your future career first-hand.
How We Began
The Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology program (also known as Think Big) began in May 1998 as a joint venture between Caterpillar and Illinois Central College to develop a new pilot program to meet the growing need for technicians in the heavy equipment industry. The primary focus of this new program was to train young men and women on a Caterpillar product line that would provide the program’s partner dealers with a high quality technician. In 1998, ICC partnered with Altorfer Inc. with dealer locations in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri and also with Patten Industries Inc. located in Illinois and Indiana. Since that time, we have added Whayne Cat with locations in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and Ohio.
We moved into a new state-of-the-art training center built on the ICC campus in June 1999. Since that first class of 11 students, the program has graduated over 330 students. The success of this program is underscored by the strong support it receives from our partner dealers, ICC, and Caterpillar. This support insures our faculty and staff are able to provide our students with the highest quality education available and our partner dealers with quality technicians that help meet their ever increasing needs.
Admission to Program
The application deadline for consideration is February 1st. All applicants to the program after the deadline will be considered for the next academic year. To be considered, each candidate must:
- Complete and return the application materials you’ll receive in the mail and send us an official copy of your high school transcript. Send items to:
Illinois Central College
ATTN: Cat Dealer Service Technology
1 College Drive, TT 101
East Peoria, IL 61635-0001 - Schedule a “Big Look” informational tour of the Caterpillar program and take the Accuplacer Placement Test and the Mechanical Reasoning Test. (We will schedule the test and tour on the same day.)
- Be accepted for sponsorship by a supporting Caterpillar dealership.
To request an informational packet please call (309) 694-5716.
Career Opportunities
Put yourself in the driverseat of a rewarding and exciting career. Think Big about becoming a Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician. You’ll work on some of the biggest, hardest-working machines in the world.
As a graduate of this program, you will become a highly skilled member of the Caterpillar Dealer Service family. You will have great benefits, flexible hours, and job security. You will also become a respected professional in the Caterpillar Dealer Service industry.
There are many job opportunities available to you as a Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician such as:
- Shop technician
- Specialized technician
- Special projects technician
- Lead shop technician
- Field technician
- Supervisor or manager within the Caterpillar dealership
- Customer service representatives
- Sales
The heavy equipment industry pays well, and Caterpillar dealerships lead the way in offering great salaries. Your starting pay can be $25,000 to $40,000 a year.
Think Big!… If Big machines, Big opportunities, and Big benefits interest you then Think Big about your future at Illinois Central College’s Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician Training Program.
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Business Partnerships
ICC’s Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology program wouldn’t exist without the support of Caterpillar Dealerships. As a student of this program, you will spend four 8-week paid internships at your sponsoring dealership. Dealership sponsorship is crucial to this program and to the hands-on training effort.
The supporting dealership/internship sites are as follows:
| Altorfer Inc. | Patten Tractor & Equipment Co. | Whayne Supply Co. |
| Cedar Rapids, IA Davenport, IA East Peoria, IL Springfield, IL Urbana, IL Hannibal, MO |
Elmhurst, IL Hammond, IN Oglesby, IL Rockford, IL Joliet, IL |
Ashland, KY Bowling Green, KY Corbin, KY Evansville, IN Hazard, KY Lexington, KY Louisville, KY Paducah, KY Pikeville, KY |
Other Partnerships: Think Big, Caterpillar
Degree
Associate in Applied Science (Career Program)
Total Credit Hours: 69
Program Requirements
Select a course number below to see a course description.
Required General Education Courses
| Course | Name | Credit Hours |
| ENGL 110 | COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| COMM 110 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION: PRESENTATION AND THEORY | 3 |
| SOCIAL SCIENCE * | 3 | |
| APPROVED MATHEMATICS ** | 3 | |
| CATTK 110 | CATERPILLAR ENGINE FUNDAMENTALS | 4 |
| HUMANITIES * | 3 |
Required Program Courses
| Course | Name | Credit Hours |
| CATTK 111 | INTRODUCTION TO CATERPILLAR SERVICE INDUSTRY | 2 |
| CATTK 112 | FUNDAMENTALS OF HYDRAULICS | 3 |
| CATTK 113 | CATERPILLAR ENGINE FUEL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| CATTK 114 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| CATTK 115 | AIR CONDITIONING | 2 |
| CATTK 116 | FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSMISSIONS & TORQUE CONVERTERS | 3 |
| CATTK 117 | MACHINE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS | 3 |
| CATTK 150 | INTERNSHIP I | 4 |
| CATTK 151 | INTERNSHIP II | 4 |
| CATTK 200 | UNDERCARRIAGE/FINAL DRIVES | 3 |
| CATTK 201 | MACHINE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS | 3 |
| CATTK 202 | CATERPILLAR ENGINE PERFORMANCE | 2 |
| CATTK 203 | DIAGNOSTIC TESTING | 1 |
| CATTK 204 | MACHINE SPECIFIC SYSTEMS | 4 |
| CATTK 250 | INTERNSHIP III | 4 |
| CATTK 251 | INTERNSHIP IV | 4 |
| WLDTR 120 | WELDING | 2 |
* See specific requirements for Associate in Applied Science Degree
** Approved mathematics: AGBUS 118, BUS 120, MATH 110 or higher
Each semester consists of eight weeks of technical classroom study and a required eight week dealer sponsored internship work experience. Upon graduation the student will have earned an Associate in Applied Science degree.
Recommended Course Sequence
| Semester | Courses |
| Fall Semester 1 | CATTK 110; CATTK 111; WLDTR 120; CATTK 150; ENGL 110 |
| Spring Semester 1 | CATTK 112; CATTK 113; CATTK 114; CATTK 151; Approved Mathematics |
| Summer Semester | CATTK 115; CATTK 116; CATTK 117 |
| Fall Semester 2 | CATTK 200; CATTK 201; CATTK 250; COMM 110; Humanities |
| Spring Semester 2 | CATTK 202; CATTK 203; CATTK 204; CATTK 251; Social Science |
Program Contact Information
Agricultural and Industrial Technologies Department
Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology Building
Room TT101
(309)694-5716
Illinois Career Cluster
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Career Pathway:
Facility and Mobile Equipment Maintenance
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