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AUTOTECH TRAINING DELIVERED IMI LEVEL 2 AND LEVEL 3 HEAVY ELECTRIC/HYBRID VEHICLE TRAINING COURSES DIRECTLY ON-SITE AT EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT.
DHL has committed to a £16 million investment to electrify its entire ground service equipment (GSE) fleet at East Midlands Airport (EMA), the largest air cargo hub in the UK. With up to 100 diesel or hybrid units being replaced by electric alternatives such as tugs, high-loaders, and Pushback tractors, DHL is actively working toward full GSE electrification by 2032. This initiative aligns with EMA’s own ambition to become a net-zero carbon airport by 2038.
To support this transition and ensure the safe, efficient operation and maintenance of this new electric fleet, DHL required targeted high-voltage EV training for its airside engineering team. Given the complexity and high value of some of the vehicles - such as the £850,000 Pushback vehicles - standardised training wasn’t enough. The solution had to be customised, accessible, and immediately relevant to their daily operations.
THE AUTOTECH TRAINING SOLUTION
Autotech Training delivered IMI Level 2 and Level 3 Heavy Electric/Hybrid Vehicle training courses directly on-site at East Midlands Airport. This approach ensured DHL’s engineering team could be upskilled with minimal disruption to their work schedule and operational output.
Each course was attended by six DHL technicians, who trained on the company’s own Pushback equipment to gain hands-on experience in a familiar setting. The content was tailored specifically to the heavy-duty nature of DHL’s fleet, ensuring that technicians not only achieved certification but also gained confidence working on the exact electric vehicles they maintain day to day.
The training covered key areas such as:
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- Safely preparing high-voltage electric vehicles for maintenance and repair
- Making EV systems safe to work on and reinstating them post-repair
- Understanding key components and diagnostic processes in heavy electric GSE
- Using appropriate tools, PPE, and safety procedures specific to high-energy systems
- Practical application on DHL’s own £850k Pushback tractors
By tailoring the training to DHL’s vehicles and delivering it on-site, Autotech Training helped ensure staff were upskilled quickly, safely, and in full alignment with the company's long-term sustainability and operational goals.
“As we invest in an electric future for our ground operations, it’s vital that our engineering teams are equipped with the right skills. Autotech Training provided exactly what we needed - customised, practical training delivered on our own vehicles and on our own site. It meant minimal downtime and maximum relevance.”
