What Iam Mechanics' Local 701 Training Program does

The IAM Mechanics' Local 701 Training Program is the vocational training arm of Automobile Mechanics Local 701, operating as a U.S. Department of Labor supervised, ERISA-compliant labor/management trust fund established in 2010 and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational trust. From a 30,000 square foot facility in Aurora, Illinois, it delivers two core programs—a 2.5-year Automotive Technology program (10 courses, 220 classroom hours, 550 shop lab hours, 220 self-study hours) and a 2-year Diesel Power and Equipment program (8 courses, 176 classroom hours, 440 shop lab hours, 176 self-study hours)—both aligned to ASE Education Foundation guidelines and led by manufacturer-trained, ASE Master Certified instructors with decades of field experience. Students attend one day per week on campus while simultaneously working full-time at Local 701 signatory employers in an "earn while you learn" model that prepares graduates for ASE A-Series and T-Series certification.

The business model is structurally a closed training-to-employment pipeline rather than a conventional tuition-based school. Revenue is sourced primarily from employer and union member contributions negotiated through collective bargaining agreements, supplemented by student fees ($75 application fee, $80 drug screen fee, $575-$592.25 materials and administration fees, $103 per-course tuition) and program-funded scholarships that render tuition effectively $0 for approved applicants ($968,000 in scholarships awarded in 2022). Reported outcomes include a 75% graduation rate in the automotive program, a 95% success rate in the truck program, and a 98% post-completion employment rate with Local 701 union employers since 2017, with entry-level wages of $15-$21/hour for automotive technicians and $18-$24/hour for truck mechanics, plus health insurance, defined benefit pension, 401k, and paid time off. Current fiscal year operating budget is stated at $750,000, and the Fund has invested over $1,000,000 in facilities, tools, equipment, and educational aids since inception.

Go-to-market is conducted through the Automobile Mechanics Local 701 union hall, the New Car Dealer Committee (CATA), MARBA, and IRMBA, with supplemental outreach via the Fund's website and Facebook page. Distribution is direct and physically centralized at the Aurora facility, with two enrollment cohorts per year (September and Spring). The Fund offers dedicated MARBA training segments for members under specific collective bargaining agreements, and operates a Discount Network with Snap-on, Matco, Hunter Engineering, and NAPA Elgin providing 40-50% retail tool discounts to enrolled students. Governance is via a joint Labor-Management Board of Trustees drawn from Local 701 representatives and signatory employers.

Name

Iam Mechanics' Local 701 Training Program

Legal name

Mechanics' Local 701 Training Fund

Website

https://local701training.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

IAM Mechanics' Local 701 Training Program is a USDOL-supervised labor/management trust fund in Aurora, Illinois that delivers ASE Education Foundation-aligned automotive and diesel technician training to individuals pursuing union careers with Local 701 signatory employers through an earn-while-you-learn model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Automotive and Diesel Technician Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tire, Wheel, Alignment & Brake Systems Training (EDAOAEAK)

Keywords

• Automotive technician training
• Diesel mechanic education
• ASE certification training
• Union apprenticeship training
• Vocational trade education

Headquarters

HQ city

Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Employer and Union Member Contributions: Training program is primarily funded through contributions from Local 701 members and employer contributions negotiated through collective bargaining agreements. Additional revenue comes from student tuition and fees.
2. Student Tuition and Fees: Students pay application fees ($75), drug screen fees ($80), materials and administration fees ($592.25 online or $575 in person), and tuition payments ($103 per course). Many students receive grants and scholarships covering $0 tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Mechanics' Local 701 Training Fund delivers ASE Education Foundation–aligned vocational training programs for entry-level automotive and diesel/heavy truck/equipment technicians. Students attend classroom and hands-on shop lab instruction one day per week while working full-time at Local 701 signatory employers, completing programs in roughly 2 to 2.5 years and preparing for ASE A-Series and T-Series certification testing. Training is funded primarily through Local 701 member and employer contributions, with $0 tuition available via scholarships for qualified students.

Product overview

The Mechanics' Local 701 Training Fund offers a unified vocational training platform for automotive and diesel/truck technicians. The core offerings consist of two primary programs: the Automotive Technology Training Program (2.5 years, 10 courses) and the Diesel Power Training Program (2 years, 8 courses). Both programs follow ASE Education Foundation guidelines, offering instructor-led classroom and hands-on shop instruction one day per week. Students prepare for ASE certification testing while employed at Local 701 signatory employers. Additional offerings include MARBA Training for union members, plus fee-based services for materials and tuition payments. The training is led by ASE Master Certified Instructors with real-world experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive Technology Training Program A 2.5-year entry-level automotive technician training program following ASE Education Foundation guidelines, consisting of 10 courses covering 220 classroom hours, 550 shop hours, and 220 self-study hours. Students attend one day per week and prepare for ASE A-Series Certification testing while employed at Local 701 signatory employers.
• Diesel Power Training Program A 2-year entry-level diesel and heavy-duty truck technician training program following ASE Education Foundation guidelines, consisting of 8 courses covering 176 classroom hours, 440 shop hours, and 176 self-study hours. Students attend one day per week and prepare for ASE T-Series Certification testing while employed at Local 701 signatory employers.
• MARBA Training Training classes intended specifically for Local 701 members employed under the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA) collective bargaining agreement, providing dedicated continuing-education and skills-advancement offerings for active MARBA union technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% graduation rate for automotive program; 95% success rate for truck mechanic program; 98% employment rate with Local 701 employers since 2017
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Automobile Mechanics Local 701coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent union organization that funds the Training Fund through member contributions. Union members and employers provide $968,000 in annual scholarships. Local 701 members in good standing receive reimbursement of application fees.
• New Car Dealer Committee (CATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents new car dealers who are Local 701 signatory employers, providing employment opportunities for program graduates and contributing to training fund through collective bargaining.
• Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bargaining association representing employers. MARBA technicians have dedicated training offerings through the Training Fund.
• Northern Illinois Ready Mix & Materials Association (IRMCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association representing employers in the ready mix and materials sector who are Local 701 signatory employers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Penn Foster: Online vocational education provider offering automotive technology and diesel programs at lower cost. Competes on accessibility and price rather than on hands-on shop instruction, which is Local 701's core delivery mode.

Direct peers

• WyoTech: Specialized automotive, diesel, and collision repair trade school (now affiliated with UNOH). Direct comparator for Local 701's core programs in curriculum length, hands-on shop instruction, and ASE-aligned training.
• Automotive Training Center: For-profit trade school specializing in automotive and diesel technician training with hands-on shop instruction. Closely mirrors Local 701's ASE-aligned, shop-lab training approach at smaller scale.
• Universal Technical Institute: Largest U.S. for-profit provider of automotive, diesel, and collision repair technician training with OEM-aligned curricula (e.g., Ford, BMW). Closest for-profit analog to Local 701's Automotive Technology and Diesel Power programs, though UTI charges tuition rather than operating on a union-funded zero-debt model.
• New England Institute of Technology: Private technical college offering automotive and diesel technology programs alongside other trades. Comparable in providing ASE-aligned curriculum and hands-on lab training for technician careers.
• Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus for-profit technical school offering automotive, diesel, and HVAC programs. Competes for the same entry-level technician student demographic as Local 701, but operates on a tuition-funded model and a broader curriculum portfolio.
• Ohio Technical College: Private trade school with automotive, diesel, and collision repair programs targeting entry-level technicians. Comparable in curriculum structure, program duration, and ASE certification preparation.
• NASCAR Technical Institute: UTI-affiliated brand focused on high-performance automotive technology training. Operates the same ASE-aligned, hands-on shop model as Local 701 but with a performance/racing specialty overlay.

Broad incumbents

• Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committees (e.g., IBEW, UA): Labor-management apprenticeship programs for skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, etc.) sharing the same earn-while-you-learn, classroom-plus-OJT, union-funded architecture as Local 701 — a structural blueprint more than a direct competitor for automotive/diesel students.

Others

• I-CAR: Industry-funded training organization for collision repair professionals. Adjacent to Local 701's automotive training focus, serving as an industry certification body rather than a competing school.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MechanicsLocal701training

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iam Mechanics' Local 701 Training Program