Volvo, Mack Trucks training programs recognized with CASE accreditation
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently awarded Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) accreditation to Volvo Trucks Academy, the training arm of Volvo Trucks in North America. CASE accreditation helps ensure high-quality training programs, which ultimately improve a retail dealer’s ability to provide exceptional customer service and support. The voluntary accreditation program reviews a training provider’s programs against established industry standards, ensuring that the continuing education training adheres to best practices.
“CASE accreditation drives continuous improvement of our instructional program and differentiates us within the heavy duty truck industry,” said Göran Nyberg, president, Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. “Exceptional training is vitally important for the success of our dealer network and drives a greater value of ownership for our customers. Accreditation also validates the quality of training we provide to customers who operate their own service networks.”
“Penske has high standards for truck fleet maintenance training programs and we have strongly supported CASE accreditation in our internal certification training program for several years,” said Bill Jacobelli, Senior Vice President of Maintenance at Penske Truck Leasing. “We commend Volvo on their achievement and their shared commitment to following industry standards for sound instructional development of fleet maintenance technicians.”
Volvo Trucks Academy provides dealership sales, parts, service, technician and driver training programs through online e-learning and instructor-led classes held at six locations throughout the United States and Canada. Additionally, technician and driver training programs are offered exclusively to Volvo customers. Volvo Trucks Academy delivered more than 5,800 instructor-led training courses and nearly 110,000 e-learning courses to Volvo dealerships and Volvo customers in 2013.
ASE is a non-profit organization established to improve the competence of automotive service technicians through voluntary testing and certification. Recognizing the need for ongoing training of experienced service technicians to keep up with increasingly complex technology, ASE established CASE Accreditation as a voluntary certification program for training providers that offer continuing education to working service technicians.
“CASE-endorsed professional development and continuing education is a valuable component in our ongoing efforts to address the well-publicized shortage of heavy-duty service technicians,” said Nyberg.
Volvo Trucks continues to invest in developing new technicians and fostering the knowledge and skills of aspiring Volvo master technicians. Through its partnership with WyoTech, students in the institution’s Diesel Advanced Technology Education program receive training tailored specifically for Volvo chassis, powertrain, emissions, electronics and electrical systems in preparation for an entry-level position servicing and repairing Volvo trucks.
Volvo’s VistaTech certification program provides technicians with the opportunity to complete instructor-led and web-based training courses to develop their skills and attain advanced certification levels as they work toward becoming a Volvo master technician. The VistaTech certification program is a proven tool for helping technicians further their careers and increase the number of Volvo master technicians in the Volvo Trucks dealer network.
Mack Trucks Academy
Highlighting Mack’s focus on developing quality training programs to encourage better service for its customers, Mack Trucks Academy recently received Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) accreditation from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The accreditation acknowledges Mack’s focus on quality and offering customers superior after-purchase support and service. Mack Trucks Academy was evaluated against established industry standards to ensure that continuing education training meets best practices.
“Receiving CASE accreditation spotlights the high-quality training programs offered through Mack Trucks Academy,” said Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks North American Sales and Marketing. “Meeting CASE standards shows Mack’s commitment to developing exceptional training programs to help increase the service and support for our customers while continuing to support our dealers.”
Training programs play an integral part in Mack’s customer support strategy and prepare dealer technicians and service personnel to support customers in each area of Mack’s Pedigree Uptime Protection service and support suite – service management, maintenance plans and vehicle diagnostics. Mack Trucks Academy provides extensive training for 14 different dealership job roles, including sales, parts, service and technician, as well as training for drivers. Courses are available through e-learning and instructor-led classes conducted at seven locations in the U.S. and Canada.
ASE is a non-profit organization established to improve the competence of automotive technicians through voluntary testing and certification. ASE established CASE Accreditation as a voluntary program after perceiving the need for ongoing training of experienced service technicians to keep up with increasingly complex technology.
Mack Trucks received a 2013 Excellence in Learning Award from the Brandon Hall Group, a preeminent research and analyst organization focused on driving organizational performance. Mack Trucks Academy received a Gold Award, the highest honor, for its comprehensive curriculum and certification program that helps Mack technicians progress through training as they work toward becoming master technicians.
Mack’s ongoing investment in technician training also includes a partnership with WyoTech, a premier technical school. WyoTech offers degree and diploma programs in the fields of automotive, diesel, collision/refinishing, motorcycle, marine and construction trades. WyoTech students enrolled in the Diesel Advanced Technology Education program receive specialized training on Mack engines, electronics, emissions, powertrain and chassis components. The program is designed to help students graduate as advanced apprentice technicians with a potential for an accelerated path to achieve Mack master technician status.