As a mechanic years ago I remember having to walk across the shop to borrow tools from my brother. That wasn’t always the case, but as a rookie I was far from having such an enviable collection.
Every visit to that giant Snap-On box made me feel like a kid in a candy store. And it wasn’t just the amount of tools; it was how clean and well-organized they were. Pat could quickly size up a job, know what tools he needed and then quickly get those tools to get the job done.
I also leaned on other mechanics for tools and advice because it wouldn’t have done me or the shop much good if I had just stayed in my stall and simply talked about my vision for car repair. I needed to work with the tools I had and then lean on others when necessary to get the job done.
A recent trip I took to Cummins’ headquarters in Indiana took me back to those days as an eager wrench wrangler and gave me a renewed appreciation for working with those master mechanics years ago.
From Cummins’ corporate office to their heritage center, their research and technology division and lastly to their mid-range engine plant, I was amazed by the talent, tools, knowledge and passion they bring to get the job done.
And at Cummins, they’re taking on a lot of jobs.
In addition to continually improving internal combustion, they’re pursuing all-electric and fuel cell powertrains along with hydrogen production and even wireless charging for trucks, all of which demonstrate a strong willingness to fully master various modes of propulsion as they push on to Destination Zero.
