Volvo Trucks Canada and Centennial College in Ontario are about to send their first group of 18 trained truck technicians into the world. These students are the first beneficiaries of a 36-week apprenticeship program started in September at Centennial as a partnership between the company and the college.
“We want to encourage students to pursue careers in the heavy truck industry, where there is a shortage of qualified heavy truck technicians,” said Volvo Trucks Canada President Michael O’Connell. “This partnership is one of Volvo Trucks greatest opportunities to meet that goal.”
The Volvo affiliate in Mississauga, Ontario, approached Centennial because its truck dealerships in the area were complaining about the lack of trained technicians. The first class of 18 students graduates in June from the Ashtonbee Campus.
Centennial’s Ashtonbee campus houses Ontario’s largest transportation training facility with more than $15 million worth of vehicles and equipment for students to use, including aircraft. Its Modified Apprenticeship Program boasts name-brand partners in the automotive field such as Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Honda Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Mack Trucks, Volvo and Canadian Tire.
For the full story, see the June 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
