Volvo CE expanding dealer tech training to West Coast

By Kevin Yanik| April 21, 2021

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is adding a West Coast technical training facility in the San Francisco Bay Area this summer as part of a larger initiative to invest in technical training across North America.

In addition to diesel construction equipment, the facility will serve as a hub for Volvo Group battery-electric vehicle training, including Volvo CE, Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks.

“An important part of our commitment to customer uptime is supporting our dealers and ensuring their technicians are well trained on the latest developments in construction equipment,” says Stephen Roy, president of region North America at Volvo CE. “The California facility brings our world-class technician training to the West Coast, adding a new level of convenience for dealers throughout North America to have their technicians go through in-depth, hands-on training, which will ultimately benefit customers with even better service, support and uptime.”

According to Volvo CE, it has long offered training to technicians and others at its North American headquarters in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The company announced plans earlier this year for a new $4.3 million training center in Shippensburg.

This summer, the West Coast training center in Hayward, California, will expand access and convenience for Volvo CE dealers, according to the company. The training center will be within a 67,000-sq.-ft. service center opened by Prevost, a coach manufacturer and part of the Volvo Group.

According to Volvo CE, the new facility will utilize 7,800 sq. ft. of dedicated training space – plus 1,800 sq. ft. of common areas. It is located a short drive from the San Francisco International Airport.

Volvo CE will use the site for e-mobility technician training as it rolls out its line of fully electric compact equipment and future electric offerings. Volvo Trucks will use the site for all of its new Volvo VNR Electric model training, and Mack Trucks will use the site for training related to the Mack LR Electric.

“With Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks conducting training at the same location, our trainees will get an even richer experience, especially when it comes to emerging technologies,” says Mark Granroth, head of connectivity and customer experience at Volvo CE. “Our trainers will learn from each other, enhancing their knowledge and teaching skills and benefiting the dealer technicians who attend training sessions.”