Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Jan. 21, 2022:
Volvo, Mack dealer in Calif. named certified EV dealer
Volvo Trucks’ and Mack Trucks’ Affinity Truck Center dealership in Fresno, California, recently achieved Certified Electric Vehicle Dealer status, allowing the dealership to support customers interested in adding Volvo VNR Electric regional tractors and Mack LR Electric refuse trucks to their fleet.
To achieve EV certification, dealers are required to meet numerous safety, charging, infrastructure, tooling and training requirements. Updates to the facility also need to be made. Affinity Truck Center met routinely with the Mack and Volvo teams during the certification process to ensure their dealership met all the standards at its Fresno site.
Affinity Truck Center offers 16 service bays in Fresno, two of which are in a separate onsite building to service electric vehicles. The dealership employs 95 people and has 27 technicians, 11 of which are master technicians. Three technicians are EV-certified to work on electric vehicles. The 60,450 square-foot dealership offers $2 million in parts inventory.
Large reefer fleet raises driver pay
KLLM Transport Services (CCJ Top 250, No. 45) this week announced what it says is the largest comprehensive pay and compensation increase in company history.
Every over-the-road and regional company driver and independent contractor leased on with KLLM will receive a pay and compensation increase in February. OTR company drivers will see the highest cents per mile bump of almost 33%. KLLM Driving Academy students coming out of training have the option to go company driver or independent contractor immediately and will also see their earning potential jump by 33%, according to a statement from the company.
Regional company drivers and independent contractors will see their pay and compensation rise 10-16% in February with every regional company driver position in the company having a guaranteed weekly minimum pay option.
