Fall Conference Training Sessions

Effective, Efficient Dispatching and Scheduling

Effective dispatching can make or break a community transportation organization. In its mission to ensure the effectiveness and viability of community transportation organizations, the Community Transportation Association provides a two-day training program designed for demand-response operations. The Professional Dispatching and Scheduling (PDS) training program focuses on operational efficiency as well as customer service techniques.

The course outline for this training and certification program is as follows:

• Day 1
  • Introduction; Explanation and Expectations
  • Customer Service
  • Impacts on Agency Operations
  • Leadership Styles and Techniques
  • Team Building
• Day 2
  • Demand Response Dispatching
  • Scheduling Exercise
  • Real Time Dispatching and Effective Communication
  • Non-Stop Changes in Dispatching
  • Service Design
  • Software Needs and Benefits
  • Review and Final Examination

Securing Community Mobility

This training program focuses on the specific security concerns of urban paratransit, rural transit, human service transit, resort transit and other community-based transportation operations. It addresses threats and vulnerabilities related to workplace violence, dangerous passengers, criminal behavior, and domestic/international terrorism. The instructional approach utilizes a combination of lecture, discussion, and individual and group activities. The program includes an extensive PowerPoint presentation, an instructor's guide, and a participant's workbook.

TeamWorks; Learning From the Fun of It

Linda is a national keynote speaker, adult educator, consultant, and author with more than 30 years of professional experience designing and delivering educational programs for large and small corporations, non-profit organizations, and professional associations. Linda is currently an adjunct faculty member at the College of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN) and the College of St. Scholastica (St. Cloud campus). Before starting her own company in 1992, she was a professional educator for Hazelden and Wilder Foundation. In addition to Laugh and Live: Reclaiming Our Sense of Humor, Linda co-authored an anthology, Teaching Human Dignity: Social Change Lessons for Every Teacher with Miriam Wasserman (published in 1978 by the Education Exploration Center).

In this issue...

• Cline Named 2007 Community Transportation Manager of the Year
• New NDDOT Director Addresses Mid-Year Conference
• From the President
• Computer Dispatch Software
• Safe Community Transportation
• New Proposed Charter Bus Regulations
• Coordinating Transit Services
• DTA Delegate Report from CTAA
• 2007 Legislative Session
• Heavy Rains Lead to Flooding
• Fall Conference Training Sessions
• Affordable Transportation Insurance by CTAA
• BE NOT AFRAID: An Introduction to Improving Transit Service with Technology