As a participant in the Transit Bus Repairer program, Long Tu is learning to rebuild internal bus components such as diesel engines and transmissions. He started working for the Utah Transit Authority as a member in the helper crew. "Being a helper, they don't allow me to do a lot of major work. .I want to do more. I don't mind digging in and doing the stuff that I don't know." He would ask to do other work that was not part of his job duties, but would be turned down. "I just want to know how to do it." Tu explained, " I am not good at everything, but I want to know how to do everything."

"I saw others that had completed the program and they recommended it," Tu replied after being asked about starting the program. He also added that those workers that didn't participate in the program wished they had. Long Tu started the three year program July 2003.

Randy Welsh, Maintenance Training Administrator for UTA's apprenticeship program, described the Transit Bus Repairer program as being very bus specific. The normal diesel truck will have an engine mounted in the front with the PLC logic system speaking to two computer systems. The UTA bus will have the same engine, but the engine is mounted in the back with a PLC logic system speaking to seven computer systems. "The foundation of Truck is good but the application of Bus is different," Welsh added. "The thing that drove us to have this apprenticeship program is; you can graduate from UVSC or Salt Lake Community College with a two-year degree in diesel mechanics, and that is a good place to start, but you are still looking at years of experience to understand the technicalities of a bus. So that's why we started the apprenticeship program."

When registering an apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor, the program must contain on the job training and classroom studies. For this program, the requirement is 1000 hours of related instruction (classroom studies) minimum, and 4500 hours of on the job training. There is also a required competency verification at the completion of the program, "so it is a competency based program," Welsh summarized. The classrooms are all within UTA grounds.

For Long Tu, the most memorable experience was a barbeque; this exhibited the fun and team atmosphere the trainers and co-workers share. Tu added that everyone all participates equally and, "We just have fun while we are working. The trainers and the co-workers are great. The trainers are always there helping us and some days they will come ask if we need any help or if we are struggling." Co-workers also help one-another and all learn together and share each other's knowledge. "The program makes you feel like you are part of a team to find solutions to real problems." The engines that are repaired come from the UTA fleet. The problems and repairs are real. "It is real work," said Welsh. Tu agrees this program is the way to start and the added bonus is, "They pay you to learn."

"I never tore an engine apart and now I get the opportunity to do that and put it all back together," Tu stated. "It gives you confidence to try. I haven't done it before but I can do it now, and when you get something done you feel proud of yourself." Tu also has confidence about his future.

For the future plans of Long Tu, he looks forward to finishing the apprenticeship program, continuing to work for UTA as a full bus mechanic, and spending time with his family. Tu enjoys being a computer geek and playing with his electronic toys. He also enjoys playing basketball and looks forward to taking his three month old boy to the monster truck event when the boy is a little older.