SAINTE-CLAIRE, Quebec Next week, upwards of 50 French-speaking motorcoach technicians, maintenance supervisors and parts managers will come here for updated training on Prevost coaches.

The training session that begins April 22 is part of Prevost Cars after-sales service program, which this year included two English-language seminars in February and March. Those classes also drew close to 50 attendees each.

While Prevost conducts training programs throughout the year across North America, the comprehensive sessions conducted early in the year close to the Prevost factory in Quebec City are consistently the most popular with both U.S. and Canadian technicians.

Interest this year was particularly high because of the changes brought about by the EPA emissions rules for 2007.

Not only did the Detroit Diesel engines that go into Prevost coaches get a makeover, but Prevost went in a different direction with the exhaust treatment system the new engines require. Prevosts system is installed vertically.

The 07 training also covered multiplex controls, the HVAC system, pneumatics, powertrain diagnosis, and basic electrical systems.

Prevosts entire field-service department contributes to developing the course and training materials used for the training.

"The whole experience was first rate from top to bottom," reported Rob Lavery, parts manager of Brewster Inc. in Banff, Alberta. "The Prevost service representatives are to be commended for their knowledge, approachability and their ability to relate to the students. I think they are what set Prevost seminars apart from so many others, where the teachers have the knowledge but not necessarily the ability or the field experience to relate to those being taught."

The Sainte-Claire seminars last five days.