“Training skilled, professional diesel technicians is a crucial component of uptime, especially with the demands currently being placed on the trucking industry as a result of COVID-19,” says Leanne Fitzpatrick, strategic programs manager, Volvo Trucks Academy. “It is important for Volvo Trucks to continue to provide educational opportunities for students during this difficult time.”
With stay-at-home and social distancing mandates in place during the pandemic, in-person training courses are temporarily postponed.
“The Mack Trucks Academy decided to work with Mack dealers to offer online training that is comprehensive,” says Scott Behe, Mack Trucks Academy senior manager for training support. “The online courses will help fill the gap until we can go back to a more normal situation.”
TES90
Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks Academy will provide students with free 90-day access to the Technical Education Support (TES) training. Training is limited to high school and secondary technical education students. Training covers an array of topics including engines, transmissions, and other components.
The TES90 online courses will be offered through local dealerships, which have relationships with eligible schools interested in enrolling. Program availability and training content will be provided by the dealer and accessed through the Trucks Customer Portal. For more information, interested parties should contact their local Volvo Trucks or Mack Trucks dealer.
“This program will help equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as future diesel technicians, and we are proud of the efforts put forth from our team here at Volvo Trucks Academy and our dealer network to be nimble and switch gears to offer online education during these extraordinary time.” Fitzpatrick says. “And through this online training along with our other Academy educational opportunities, we are establishing and cultivating relationships with future truck technicians, supporting them in starting their career and filling the need for trained service professionals familiar with our truck models, which directly contributes to our customers’ uptime.”
COVID-19 RESOURCE FROM MACK
Yet offering online training is just one area in which Mack Trucks has offered help during COVID-19. Mack Trucks also recently launched info.macktrucks.com/thankyou, an online resource offering dealers and trucking companies useful information from government agencies and other sources, along with Mack-specific updates regarding ongoing 24/7 customer support from Mack® OneCall™ agents, parts availability, production and a link to dealer locations.
The page also features a video expressing Mack’s gratitude for the efforts of truck customers, drivers, service technicians and dealers. Additionally, the page features links to #thankatrucker on social media allowing page visitors to join the conversation.
Find out more, visit www.macktrucks.com and www.volvotrucks.us.
