Volvo Group’s Brandis Recognized by University of California for Leadership in Transportation

Volvo Group North America’s Keith Brandis, vice president of system solutions and partnerships, recently was presented the Industry Distinguished Service Award by the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT).

Brandis was recognized for his contributions and leadership in several innovative transport initiatives, including the award-winning Volvo LIGHTS (Low-Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) project. He received the honor during the university’s 30th annual awards ceremony at the Riverside, Calif., research center earlier this month.

“I am very honored to receive the Industry Distinguished Service Award from CE-CERT, one of the world’s preeminent automotive research laboratories,” Brandis said. “Having the opportunity to collaborate with CE-CERT’s engineers on the Volvo LIGHTS projects during the last few years has been a rewarding experience, as I’ve been able to witness firsthand the innovative thinking that their team applies to their research and design initiatives.”

The Industry Distinguished Service Award is a long-honored tradition to recognize an outside affiliate who has contributed to CE-CERT’s growth and advancement of its mission. Brandis worked closely with CE-CERT throughout the Volvo LIGHTS project – a unique collaboration between 14 public and private organizations to pioneer a range of vehicle, charging and workforce development innovations critical for the commercial success of heavy-duty, battery-electric trucks and equipment. To support the Volvo LIGHTS project goals, CE-CERT used project data to develop algorithms to improve truck routing and reduce impacts on local communities.

“As a leading research organization at UC Riverside, CE-CERT values its partnerships with industry, government agencies, and academics,” said Matthew Barth, Director of CE-CERT at the University of California, Riverside. “The Volvo Group has played a key research role with CE-CERT for a number of years, and we are honored to give our 2022 Distinguished Service Industry Award to Keith Brandis, who has been a good friend of our Center.”

CARB invests in reducing emissions

The California Air Resources Board invested $44.8 million in Inland Southern California to reduce emissions from goods-movement trucks and equipment. With investments and resources from the Volvo Group, South Coast Air Quality Management District and other partners throughout the three-year project, Volvo LIGHTS has demonstrated the ability for heavy-duty, battery-electric trucks and equipment to reliably move freight between two of California’s two major ports and warehouses throughout the region with less noise and zero emissions.

Brandis is a 40-plus-year veteran of the trucking industry with a diverse background in truck manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing for the Volvo Group. He began his career with Volvo Trucks at its New River Valley manufacturing operations in Dublin, Va., where all of the brands’ Class 8 trucks for the North American market are assembled.

Today, Brandis works in the Project and Product Strategy Office as the vice president of system solutions and partnerships for North America and is actively involved in several projects driving technological and industry-transforming progress in transportation and sustainability.