Although electric-vehicle training and certification is in its infancy, there are a number of options for training on alternative fuels such as natural gas engines.
As a new administration enters the White House, fleet leaders wonder if and how the timelines for stricter heavy-truck emissions standards and zero-emissions mandates will change. Regardless of any changes, most agree that the use of lower- and zero-emissions trucks will continue to grow.
Are your technicians ready?
Victor Cummings, vice president of service operations for Rush Enterprises, shared some insights on the question during a break in the action at the company’s annual tech skills rodeo in December. In its 19th year, the Rush Tech Skills Rodeo has competition divisions for compressed natural gas technicians, but not yet for those who work on electric vehicles.
“I would say the maintenance and repair side of the EV industry is still somewhat in its infancy, meaning there’s not a robust structure behind technical training and support,” Cummings told HDT in an interview.
He said Rush Truck Centers has EV service pilot locations where Rush works with the original equipment (OE) manufacturers through partnerships.
“When we run into an issue with the truck, we’re hand in hand with the OEs,” he explained. “We’re still both kind of learning our way through the process.”
Training for Technicians Working on Electric Trucks
Cummings pointed to the need for techs to be able to safely decommission an EV before beginning work.
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) offers two training and certification courses for EV technicians. Rush encourages technicians who will deal with EVs to pursue that training, and Rush’s dealership group will pay technicians an hourly kicker if they complete those courses.
Manufacturers also offer EV training specific to their trucks.
However, Cummings said, there is no comprehensive bumper-to-bumper technical manual on electric trucks at this point. Some parts of the chassis may have parts or components in common with internal combustion engine vehicles, but there can be many differences with the powertrains.
Last summer, Peterbilt announced its largest electric vehicle order to date. The 150 Model 579EVs electric trucks were sold to Einride in a partnership with Peterbilt and Rush Peterbilt Truck Centers.
Close collaboration with the OEs is a vital part of the journey as dealers and service centers learn more about electric trucks.
“We’re in that pioneering stage, but there’s a lot of energy behind it,” he said. “There’s a lot of support from the OEs. We’re learning our way through every part of the business, and that goes from the suppliers that provide the parts, to how we order the parts and the parts pricing.
“We’re continuously working through different bugs or what have you, but it just requires a lot of dialogue back and forth and collaboration with the OEs.”
Infrastructure & Training for EV Techs
Any location must prepare to sell and service battery-electric vehicles. Cummings pointed out that each location needs chargers for both sales and service. Rush is installing charging systems in its major markets. The OE requires charging capability at a dealer if the location wants to sell battery-electric trucks.
Rush also requires technicians who will be working on EVs to complete safety training related to electric vehicles. The OE training is mandatory, while the ASE courses are optional.
“There’s a select group of technicians at any given dealership working on the EVs,” Cummings said. “We don’t just turn that loose to any technician by any stretch. We’re very careful about who we select to work on the trucks.”
Most technicians who are committed to their trade, he added, will pursue additional training. Electric-vehicle training is just one more skill set and training opportunity available for those who are interested.
“I don’t know that there’s much resistance to the EV training. We’re just in the beginning stages,” Cummings said.
“So, we’re really kind of working to control who works on the trucks and making sure that they’re properly qualified and trained depending on the issues with the trucks.”
The OEs are there to support the EV service technicians. Cummings explained that OE engineers may be working through a case file on a battery-electric truck that is in for repairs and may even send someone on-site to work with the local technician.
“When we first started piloting EVs in the field with the customers, it was not uncommon to have a Rush technician working in partnership with an engineer from the equipment manufacturer to work side by side through any given issue that may have surfaced with the truck,” Cummings recalled.
Will job applicants apply just to be an EV technician?
Not likely, from Cummings’ perspective.
“I don’t see that happening in the next few years. I really don’t. There are too many internal combustion engines out there. Just the ratio, the mix, even if it’s a CARB state, there are still a significant number and will be a significant number of IC vehicles on the road.
“So, I don’t see that the volume is high enough to have a technician dedicated specifically to EVs.”
Servicing Other Alt-Fuel Trucks
While Rush now offers EV sales and service in some locations, it is well-entrenched in compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks and has a partnership with Cummins’ Clean Fuel Technologies.
“We believe that there will be a demand and a need for alternative fuel vehicles for quite some time,” Cummings said.
“From what I gather, and I’m not as well versed on the sales side, I will tell you that’s a big part of the strategy of migrating on emissions improvements, fleet requirements, and the evolution towards an EV or hybrid type of a fleet.”
A Rush Enterprises technician installs a back-of-cab compressed natural gas system.
To prepare to service CNG trucks, Rush has Natural Gas Vehicle Institute (NGVi) CNG-certified techs and CNG-certified tank inspectors, but also partners with the knowledge base available through OEs.
In 2023, NGVi launched its Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi).
AFVi offers courses such as:
- CNG Fuel System Design and Installation Training.
- CNG Fueling Station Codes, Standards and Regulations.
- Essentials of CNG Station Operation and Maintenance, Level 1: NGV Essentials and Safety Practices, Level 2: CNG Fuel System Inspector Training.
- Heavy-Duty NGV Maintenance and Diagnostics Training
- Natural Gas Vehicle Driver and Fueling Training
- NGV Refuse Fleet Driver Training.
AFVi, in addition to CNG-related courses, now offers training and certification on other alternative-fueled vehicles, such as battery-electric, propane-, and hydrogen-powered.
Traditionally, natural gas engines have been a better option for vehicles needing less power. Cummins’ new ISXN engine aims to change that.
Will We See More Trucks Powered by Renewable Natural Gas?
“I guess nobody can touch us when it comes to working on it (CNG),” said Rusty Rush, chairman, CEO, and president of Rush Enterprises.
“Every shop we built for the last 10 years or more has CNG bays,” Rush said. “I can take you through so many refurbs we’ve done on CNG trucks, the trucks and the engines.”
The CEO said he expects to possibly see a slowdown in EV mandates, or at least deadlines pushed further out, when the new administration occupies the White House.
However, he is a big fan of CNG, especially when those engines are fueled with renewable natural gas.
“Well-to-wheel, RNG is way better than electric,” Rush said. “But you know, unfortunately, it hasn’t gotten what I believe was fair treatment, especially in that state out on the West Coast and all the rulemaking going on out there.”
Technician Career Options in Alt-Fuel and Zero-Emissions Trucks
As vehicles continue to evolve, they may have fewer moving parts, but service and repair can become more complex in some ways and require specialized technical training.
In some ways, electric vehicles will require less maintenance than traditional ICE trucks.
“I think it’ll take a certain level of training, but it’s a different product. So I don’t see it necessarily requiring more or less training. It’s just a different product altogether,” Cummings added.
“I can see at some point where you would have EV tech, and you have IC tech, and then maybe a few that are versatile in between.”
Technicians today face new challenges, whether we’re looking at the advances in internal combustion engines, alternative fuels, or other alternative powertrains. Diagnostics, likewise, have come a long way.
“Even in today’s world, when you look at a diesel-powered truck or natural gas-powered truck, those vehicles are very, very sophisticated, very complex, and quite frankly, difficult to troubleshoot at times,” Cummins said. “If you go back 20, 30 years, a diesel engine was one of the most simple pieces of equipment to diagnose and repair. Today, that’s not the case.”
There is a starting point for any new technician, but where do they want to go from there?
Do they want to focus on the latest internal-combustion engines, EV, or CNG? Maybe move into a parts and service manager or other role? It is now incumbent on employers to help uncover interests and assist technicians along a career path.
At Rush, you commonly hear a term that sums it all up: pathways. The career opportunities for a technician in today’s modern trucking world are far more varied than ever before.
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