Does your team have the knowledge and skills to operate and maintain battery electric and fuel cell buses? You may have had training when the vehicles are new, but is the training updated when staff is new? TRB hosted a webinar on Thursday, August 13, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern that explored findings from TCRP Research Report 252: Public Transit Workforce Development for Zero-Emission Vehicles. Presenters discussed the workforce competencies needed to support the existing fleet of battery electric and fuel cell buses, training approaches and resources available to transit agencies, and promising practices for implementing workforce development programs that prepare frontline employees for successful zero-emission vehicle operations.
This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program.
The slides are available. 
 
Webinar agenda and presenters

• Key findings – John Schiavone, International Transportation Learning Center
• Seven steps to ensure a well-trained workforce for zero-emission vehicles – Karitsa Holdzkom, International Transportation Learning Center
• Case studies and case profiles – Michaela Boneva, International Transportation Learning Center
• Question and answer session moderated by Douglas Nevins, International Transportation Learning Center

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.
 
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants can:

• Identify the skills and competencies operators and technicians need to safely operate and maintain zero-emission vehicles
• Evaluate training strategies and available resources to develop a prepared workforce
• Examine promising workforce development practices and determine how they can be applied within participants' own transit agencies

 
Professional Development Hours
This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.
American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance Credits
This webinar was approved by the American Planning Association (APA) for 1.5 Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits. CM credits provide continuing education opportunities for AICP Certified Planners to continue their professional skills and knowledge. To receive CM credits, Certified Planners should visit the TRB event webpage on American Planning Association and register their participation. If you have problems reporting your CM credits or have general questions about the CM program, please contact the APA.