In an effort to support customers in the western U.S. and Canada, as well as battery-electric vehicle training efforts for the Volvo VNR Electric and Mack LR Electric, Volvo and Mack Trucks announced the companies are opening a state-of-the-art training facility in Hayward, California.

The company's will initiate training at the Hayward facility June 1. Volvo and Mack will teach comprehensive electromobility courses for dealer personnel, Volvo/Mack employees, owner-operators and fleet customers, and will also offer training for diesel technicians, sales and aftermarket personnel.

The Volvo and Mack academy offers courses 50 weeks of the year in its existing locations and will gradually build toward that in the 9,600 square-foot leased space. The facility will feature the same training tools as found at the more than 425 Mack dealer locations throughout North America.

“We will have the same setup as dealers, so trainees are utilizing the same safety equipment, electrical repair tooling and electric chargers as they would be at their dealer location,” said Scott Behe, senior manager of training support for the Mack Trucks Academy.  

During the first week of June, classes will be focused on BEV safety training. Coursework after that week is still being finalized but will include more sessions about BEV operation and repair. Other courses include diesel training such as engine overhaul, transmission design and function, and parts sales and warranty fundamentals. 

The site is close to three airports – San Francisco International, Oakland International Airport and Norman Y. Mineta International Airport in San Jose – making it easy for attendees to travel to and from instructor-led classes, Mack officials said in a press release.

Volvo Trucks is among the first major truck manufacturers in North America to commercialize and sell battery-electric Class 8 trucks, Volvo officials said in a press release. Because technician training is essential to introducing the Volvo VNR Electric to customers with comprehensive service and support, the Hayward location will further advance the model’s viability in the market. Additionally, the training facility will increase opportunities for collaboration between various Volvo Group business units as the site is also home to Prevost, Volvo Group’s passenger coach division, and Volvo Trucks Academy will also share a portion of training space with Volvo Construction Equipment.