PASS Training: We've Got a Good Start

Ron Baumgart
River Cities Transit
Pierre, SD

As all of you know several DTA members were trained last November so we could start training our drivers in North Dakota and South Dakota to become PASS certified. This spring we have provided training in at least four locations in the two states. That's a good start. I was involved in teaching two classes and found it to be interesting and very rewarding to train the drivers. As of April 15, eighty-four drivers and dispatchers from the Dakotas have registered for PASS training.

I know it is hard for transit directors to schedule time so the drivers, and in some cases dispatchers, have the time to receive the two-day training. I talked to Sandy Mack, director of People's Transit in Huron, SD, after she found a way to have most of her drivers attend training in Brookings and Pierre, SD. In her words, "It was hard to do, but worth it to get her drivers to the PASS training, all the drivers told me they enjoyed the training and learned a great deal." I received the same responses from the drivers and dispatchers here at River Cities Public Transit. In less than a week, I had several of our drivers tell me something they learned in the training had already helped them through a situation they had encountered. Melody Musick, a driver at RCPT, told me she was out in the country to pickup a passenger that needed the lift for assistance and the lift wouldn't work. Her training in the proper way to use the hand jack on the lift allowed her to complete the ride and get her passenger Nick Kahler to work on time.

Our customers are our job, I can't encourage you enough as transit providers to work with DTA and our trainers to get your employees PASS certified. This training certainly trains our drivers to provide better service to our passengers and is a great tool for risk management.

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In this issue...

• Graphic Design Students Partner with Cities Area Transit
• From the President
• Rides for Senior
• SAFETEA-LU: An Overview
• UWR Coordinated Planning Grant
• Cami Gilbertson Feature Trainer at DTA Mid-Year Session
• North Dakota Breakout Session
• 2006 DTA Conference and Roadeo
• PASS Training: We've Got a Good Start
• An Act of Kindness
• "Cutting Edge Transit"
• Transit is an Important Part of the Community
• Changes in Today's Transit Vehicles
• A Cautionary Tale
• DTA Annual Awards