As the North America Class 8 truck population and demand for truck drivers continues to increase, Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America decided to take a unique approach in reaching new drivers. Webasto has partnered with United States Truck Driving Training Schools (USTDTS) to develop and deliver a curriculum to educate truck driving students about how to save money on fuel and better the environment with idle reduction technology.
Impacting the Industry
With this new partnership, Webasto will be a primary educational resource for truck driver awareness regarding fuel efficiency and environmental impact, reaching over 1,000 new drivers each year. “The entire team here at Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America is excited to pioneer this program with such a reputable educational organization,” said Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America President & CEO, Dr. Rolf Haag. “Over the last 20 years, USTDTS has placed over 90 percent of their students into the truck driving workforce with some of the industry’s largest fleets.”
Training Transportation Experts
USTDTS was established in 1994 and has provided training to over 15,000 men and women. New students enter the program each week. The idle reduction curriculum will be taught to all new students, allowing them to become experts on idle reduction technology and fuel savings at the beginning of their new careers. With a serious truck driver shortage in the U.S., now is the time for people to begin their education, learn the many benefits of becoming a transportation expert and get on the road in a growing, high paying industry.
“We are eager to develop this new aspect of our curriculum,” said USTDTS president, Joseph LaBarge. “It is exciting to be able to educate students on the importance of fuel efficiency and idle reduction. With the cost of fuel this technology will truly impact their bottom line.”
The new curriculum will be integrated into USTDTS classrooms beginning Sept. 29, 2014. Webasto has equipped the school’s training vehicles with an Air Top 2000 ST Bunk Heater and Thermo Top C Engine Pre-heater. Between the core curriculum and hands on learning outside of the classroom, students will get in the habit of using the technology and become advocates of idle reduction on their own.
