Powering Up Skills: FEE Training at SJRTD

​On August 18 and 19, 2026, mechanics at San Joaquin Regional Transit District (SJRTD), represented by ATU Local 256, participated in Fundamentals of Electrical Electronics (FEE) training. Participants included Dung Do, Francisco Ortigoza, Jose Garcia, Khang Nguyen, and Mau Banh.

The FEE training provides transit mechanics with a foundation in electrical and electronic systems, helping them develop the knowledge and skills needed to troubleshoot and maintain increasingly complex transit vehicles and equipment. As transit technology continues to evolve, this type of training helps prepare frontline workers for the changing technical demands of the industry.

Susan Yates, CTW’s Northern/Central California Lead, had an opportunity to observe part of the training and was impressed by how engaging and accessible the instruction was. “I don’t have maintenance training, and I was only there for a short period of time, but I found myself really engaged in what they were learning and wanting to learn more,” she said. “You could see the mechanics were engaged too. They were asking questions, working through the material, and learning from each other.”

The two-day training demonstrated the value of continued investment in frontline transit workers. By providing mechanics with opportunities to strengthen their technical skills and continue learning on the job, programs such as FEE support workers in their careers while helping transit agencies develop a stronger and more prepared workforce.

The training also provided an opportunity to document workforce development in action, capturing SJRTD mechanics building their knowledge and developing skills that will become increasingly important as public transportation continues to adopt new electrical and electronic technologies.