Volvo Trucks named its largest West Coast dealership, TEC Equipment, the company’s first Volvo Electric Vehicle Certified Dealer in North America.

TEC Equipment’s Fontana branch in Southern California is the first location to achieve the electric vehicle certification, signifying that its sales team is fully trained to consult with customers that are considering investing in any of the VNR Electric model configurations. Its service team has also been fully trained and equipped to safely perform battery-electric truck maintenance and repairs for trucks in operations. 

“Volvo Trucks’ Volvo EV Certified Dealer certification program will help us build the robust sales and service ecosystem required to support customers across the country with their zero-emission transportation goals,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, in a press release. “It’s fitting that TEC Equipment is our first dealer group to achieve this certification, as they have been an integral partner in the innovative Volvo LIGHTS project and deployed the first Volvo VNR Electric model in North America.”

The Volvo VNR Electric has been designed as a sustainable transportation solution for fleet operators supporting local and regional distribution, pickup and delivery, and food and beverage distribution. TEC Equipment’s Fontana sales team has been trained to help customers evaluate which of their routes might be the most ideal for electrification and how to select the right VNR Electric configuration.

TEC Equipment has long been a Volvo Certified Uptime Center and will continue to collaborate with Volvo Trucks to implement the same streamlined service philosophy for VNR Electrics.

EV Certified Dealers will also maintain a stock of key parts and components for the VNR Electric model to minimize service times.

 “Over the past year, our Fontana technicians gained valuable experience maintaining our own Volvo VNR Electric truck, as well as performing routine maintenance for several of our Southern California customers who are running VNR Electrics in the region. We are fully prepared to support fleets in Southern California with their electric vehicles,” said David Thompson, founder and CEO of TEC Equipment.

Volvo Trucks designed its Volvo EV Certified Dealer program to ensure technicians understand the proper safety procedures when servicing electric drivetrains and components. In addition, TEC Equipment’s technicians have been outfitted with personal protective equipment for working with high-voltage systems.

Volvo Trucks is working to add additional Volvo EV Certified Dealers to its network of nearly 300 authorized full-service dealer touchpoints in North America.

TEC Equipment Hosts Forum on HD Battery Electric Vehicles

TEC Equipment held a forum for its customers at it's Portland, Oregon dealership, where Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks offciaisl  fielded questions from more than 75 TEC customers,vendors and industry stakeholders on the current and future state of battery electric transportation.

The Volvo VNR Electric and Mack LRe models were on hand to demonstrate the versatility and potential of fully-electric heavy-duty trucks, TEC officials said in a press release.

Industry experts also led discussions on a wide range of considerations around the adoption of EV technology, including partnering with local utilities, charging infrastructure, and funding and policy.

The Oregon Trucking Association, Washington Trucking Association and Oregon state legislators were also in attendance to participate in the forum.

[Editor's note: This news was update Aug. 5 to include informationa bout TEC Equipment's HD BEV Forum, which was held Aug. 4.]