Instead of sending technicians to training, why not have the training come to them? That’s what Love's Travel Stops does for its nearly 300 facilities that offer truck service and repair.
The mobile training classroom provides training on theory and hands-on work.
Technician Development
The industry has a shortage of qualified technicians, says Dale Simmons, a Love’s trainer who covers 54 company locations in the Southeast. Love’s is being proactive in its efforts and investments to develop its technicians.
The mobile training classroom program began this past February. Other trainers cover the rest of the U.S.
The training trailer sets up in a predetermined Love’s location and up to nine other Love’s locations can send their technicians for training, Simmons says.
The trailer is equipped with all of the tools and equipment required for hands-on training. There are also PowerPoint presentations and videos for each training course. Certifications are awarded if training is successfully completed.
Courses
At present, the courses offered are:
- JPRO Diagnostics.
- Wheelends.
- Foundation brakes.
- Air brake systems.
- Electrical systems.
- HVAC.
- Tires.
- PM procedures.
- DOT inspections.
- FleetCross – an application containing all-makes reference information.
Additional courses will be added over time.
The Trailers
Companies that have provided training materials for the Love’s training trailers include:
- Noregon Systems, a leader in providing commercial vehicle diagnostics, repair and data analytic solutions for the future of the connected shop and truck.
- Stemco, which supplies a diverse line of high performance systems and components to the commercial vehicle industry.
- Wilson Auto Electric, a remanufacturer of alternators, starters, generators, brake calipers and electrical component parts for the automotive, agricultural, industrial, heavy duty truck and marine aftermarkets.
- Reagan Industries, a national wholesaler of heavy truck components that also specializes in training and inventory management support.
Love’s currently has five training trailers, with one more in production.
While fleets have been asking Love’s to open its training to their technicians, the current focus is solely on the company’s technicians, says Simmons. However, because there is an obvious need for this type of training in the market, Love’s is looking into expanding its training outside its organization.
