Workforce Development

Introduction

HD battery-electric trucks have arrived on the market, and very few fleets or dealerships have experience operating and maintaining them. To enable a successful transition to battery-electric trucks, comprehensive training is needed for staff that will interact with the vehicles, including fleet managers, service technicians, and professional drivers. Career opportunities and economic mobility are significant community benefits arising from JETSI and similar fleet electrification projects.

The JETSI project provides 5,000+ hours of OEM-led training to: 

Fleet Managers

To develop a successful plan to integrate battery-electric trucks into their operations, fleet managers are provided with training and resources on selecting their ideal routes based on vehicle range, traffic patterns, terrain, and other factors. In addition, fleet managers learn to plan charging dwell time to support the vehicle range needed to make several trips per day, while minimizing electricity cost by maximizing off-peak charging. These skills will be continuously improved with experience, leading to more efficient operations.

Service Technicians

EVs are significantly different from internal combustion vehicles, with new systems, high-voltage safety requirements, and entirely new maintenance routines and checklists to learn. Technicians need to become knowledgeable on battery systems, advanced power management software and computing systems, regenerative braking, and high-voltage electrical systems. This requires appropriate safety training modules for staff. 

Truck Drivers

Driver training covers a depth of operational and safety knowledge in a vehicle unlike a traditional diesel big rig. Without an engine to start or gearbox to shift, there are many new aspects of the truck to learn. One new characteristic a driver must master is regenerative braking, which will recharge the battery and extend vehicle range between 5-15% with proper training.

Workforce Development Benefits

An important aspect of workforce development is that specialized training will result in job creation, retention, and advancement opportunities within SoCal, as battery-electric trucks are increasingly deployed by fleets in the region. This transition to EVs will reward those honing their skills and gaining managerial-level experience. The time required to gain these skills can be modest and affordable for community members seeking economic opportunity. 

Workforce and economic development aspects of JETSI include: 

239 Long-Term Jobs

including drivers and service technicians for battery-electric trucks, charging equipment, and distributed energy resources

176 Temporary Jobs

during construction phase of charging infrastructure—including design and engineering, construction, and project management

Indirect Jobs

to support this new and growing industry, such as electricians, EVSE specialists, software specialists, energy managers and other positions

Workforce Development Programs

As more battery-electric trucks are deployed in Southern California, more technicians with appropriate training are needed to maintain and repair advanced electric drivetrains. This creates economic opportunity for residents interested in the field. In the local region, the following colleges offer programs to enable job seekers to prepare for a career working with heavy-duty electric trucks.

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, CA

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Rio Hondo College

Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA 

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Related Project News & Resources

News Story

4/1/2024

EPA’s strict new rules for heavy-duty trucks spark strong Southern California responses

Los Angeles Daily News | In February, an event showcased a trucking company’s Ontario-based fleet of electric-powered drayage trucks, funded in part by a state government and pollution-fighting public agencies. NFI’s trucks are expected to offset 4,400 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Press Release

3/27/2024

South Coast AQMD to Host 34th Annual Clean Air Awards to Celebrate the Leaders Improving the Health of Our Communities and Environment

Schneider National Inc. and the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI) will be honored with
this award for their commitment to sustainability and for embracing clean technology in reducing
the company’s environmental footprint.

News Story

3/1/2024

How NFI Deployed 50 Battery-Electric Trucks in California

HDT | NFI had just gotten into the West Coast drayage business in a big way with the 2017 purchase of CalCartage when Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Semi electric truck. NFI executives immediately saw drayage as an ideal use case for such a truck.
So NFI’s team went to talk to its legacy truck makers. “We said, ‘If this is something you’re thinking about, we want to be a part of it,” says Jim O’Leary, VP of Assets for New Jersey-based NF

News Story

2/28/2024

Glimpse at a clean-air future for Inland Empire trucks seen in Ontario

KVCR | Diesel trucks emit smog and tiny particles into the air that are known to cause respiratory diseases for people living near freeways and warehouses. NFI officials say their battery-powered trucks and electric charging ports will help replace up to 3 million gallons of diesel fuel per year.

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