7 “MUST HAVE” KEY INGREDIENTS IN SURFACE TRANSIT BUS OPERATOR TRAINING 11/15/2018 7 “MUST HAVE” KEY INGREDIENTS IN SURFACE TRANSIT BUS OPERATOR TRAINING APTA Mid-Year Safety Seminar December 6, 2017 Houston METRO Presented by: Louie Maiello Transit Training Solutions

WELCOME There will be six designated yawning breaks during my presentation. Please pace your boredom accordingly.

EXPECTED TAKEAWAYS Reduce training cost by “streamlining” your training program Reduce collisions “immediately” Produce and “maintain” a world class operator

TRAININGS “7” KEY INGREDIENTS Standardized “Basic Skill” Development Curriculum (Front-loaded with maximum amount of ‘hands on’ behind the wheel driving) Instructor Accountability (Are instructors making the right calls in which trainees they are qualifying?) “Set Amount” of Days In Place to Qualify / Terminated (Training “until they get it” does not produce the “cream of the crop”) Corrective Actions Program (Specific prescriptions for correcting the problems)

TRAININGS “7” KEY INGREDIENTS Automatic (final day) Disqualifiers (Not hiring material if still demonstrating unsafe actions) Route Familiarization Operator (train the trainer) Program (Ensure that RFO’s are up to date with what is being taught to trainees during basic skill development phase) Post Training Evaluation / Annual Refresher Programs (Promote an agency wide ”hire to retire” philosophy)

Standardized Curriculum KEY #1 Standardized Curriculum Front Loaded with “behind the wheel” skills training occurring first Eliminating from the program those who failed “BDW” training “Timely and Meaningful” classroom training after washouts Standardization in: Instructor Documentation (see last Linkedin blog) Automatic Final Day Disqualifier Applicators Basic Skills Student Performance & Instructor Delivery

“Set Amount” Of Days In Place To Qualify KEY #2 “Set Amount” Of Days In Place To Qualify Not training “until one eventually gets it” final day = final day Available final day options: Advancement – proceed to classroom training / route familiarization Voluntary Resignation - if given a satisfactory evaluation other than driving portion, possible to re-apply at a future date (3 yrs.) Forced Termination – (refusing to sign resignation) no return option

Instructor Consistency KEY #3 Instructor Consistency Instructor Selection, Hiring Criteria Tracking / Accountability Establishing a Lead Instructor (Are all on the “same page” with their teachings)

KEY #4 Do you have any? What are they? Automatic (final day) Disqualifiers Do you have any? What are they? (Guilty of any, no longer eligible to continue in training)

AUTOMATIC FINAL DAY DISQUALIFIERS INFRACTIONS: Curb Rubbing / Jumping Abrupt / Heavy Braking Excessive Speed Mirror set up / utilization issues Dangerous Action Insufficient / Excessive Clearance etc. Guilty of any of the above on FINAL training day, it’s over How much do you tolerate on FINAL “show me” day Instructors must agree on “Automatics” that will result in a FINAL day disqualification

Route Familiarization Operator Program KEY #5 Route Familiarization Operator Program (RFO’s must fit a profile and be current as to what is being taught to trainees during basic skill development phase) Recommended qualifications in the RFO selection process: *Minimum 5 years seniority operating in passenger service Three year collision free continuous years in passenger service Three year violation free (attendance and schedule) Three year free of (verified) incidents involving customer complaints Participate in RFO annual refresher

Corrective Actions Program KEY #6 Corrective Actions Program C……orrective A……ction R……emedies E…....nvelope Do you have one?

Tailored prescriptions to combat: (excluding trainings final day) CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Tailored prescriptions to combat: (excluding trainings final day) Collisions Knockdowns Curb Jumpers Abrupt Steering / Braking Excessive Speed Failure to “Cover” Right Failure To Set/Utilize Mirrors Insufficient Clearance on Right Side Failure to “Square “off” turns Failure to utilize “hand over hand” steering

Post Training Programs KEY #7 Post Training Programs “Probationary Review” – minimum 6 months probation, monthly probie review meetings “Potential Problem Operator” – magic number gets you in the program “Annual Refresher Programs” –promoting a system wide “hire to retire philosophy

THE MARRIAGE OF TECHNOLOGY: EXPOSING A DANGEROUS ACTION WITH VIDEO TECHNOLOGY, APPLY AND FIX WITH LOW RISK SIMULATED ENVRONMENT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Removes the threat of physical harm Allows for higher frequency of repetition to hasten knowledge transfer Desired conditions are immediately available Replay/Review/Retry allow students to perfect skills Provides immediate and objective feedback Exposes training inconsistencies in the training staff

CONCLUSION Problem: Training Solution: Early Collision Curve → Insufficient Probation Inconsistent BSD Teachings → Standardized Curriculum Inconsistent RFO Message at Depot → RFO Program Repeat of Top Collisions → Corrective Actions Program Keeping the “Best” in Service → Post Training Programs

WHAT EACH OF YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY Make the 3 S’s of transportation your daily SOP 1) SAFETY 2) SERVICE 3) SCHEDULE

FINAL THOUGHT Remember, it’s the instructors “moral responsibility” to only allow the “cream of the crop” of students to advance beyond the training bus into passenger service, never putting a student in a position to increase claims or put themselves or the riding public in harms way. As an instructor evaluating each of your students on the final day of training, ask yourself “tomorrow would I allow my family to board the bus of this student that I am about to advance forward?” If you have to think about it, take that as a NO!!! If additional training is available, fine. If training days have been exhausted, you must release the student.

NEVER FORGET… THANK YOU! Louis G. Maiello Director Training Services Transit Training Solutions (TTS) Phone: (845) 705-0056 louie@TransitTrainingSolutions.com NEVER FORGET…