Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
Issue link: https://metromag.epubxp.com/i/431516
www.espar.com /// (800) 387-4800 Espar... Because Off-the-Rack Just Isn't Good Enough Hydronic M-12 42,000 BTU Hydronic D5 17,000 BTU Hydronic LII 122,000 BTU Contact an Espar Tailor Near You And Get Your Fleet Measured for New Heaters Sales Rep Espar Climate Systems a member of the Eberspächer group of companies In the "Creating a Driver Training Pro- gram from Start to Finish" session, L-3 Communications' Louie Maiello and Steve Mentzer examined the changing landscape of driver training education; reviewed the benefits of effectively in- tegrating technology, including driving simulators; and most importantly dis- cussed how to create training programs that will serve and support professional bus operators from the day they are hired all the way through to their retirement. Key takeaways from the informative session included the need to select the best-qualifed applicants; provide a val- idated, criterion-based training pro- gram ; create a multi-layered compre- hensive safety program; prescriptively retrain and monitor drivers; and con- tinue to evaluate progress and redesign and implement new programs to address emerging needs. Meanwhile during the "Do it Right, the First Time, Every Time" session, Transit & Paratransit Co. President Jef Cassell, discussed the importance for bus opera- tors to create a clear picture of what is ex- pected from their drivers and hold them accountable when they make mistakes to remove risks when out on the road and create a safer level of overall, day-to-day service. Te focus of Cassell's session was call- ing for operations to create safe NORMS — the normal and usual way every em- ploye e should b ehave automatical - ly when performing their jobs. Some of the unsafe behaviors that should be ad- dressed when an operation creates its NORMS include cell phone usage, fol- lowing too closely, unsafe backing, roll- ing through stop signs and rushing to stay on schedule. Additional sessions on tap during Bus- Con included the United Motorcoach Association's "Understanding the FMC- SA Safety Management Cycle;" how to save money on tires by improving your maintenance program; an RFP/IFB best practices talk by USSC Group's Ray Mel- leady; how to fnd and attain grant fund- ing; and what's new with the FTA's Al- toona bus testing program. Meanwhile, the Keynote Address at the Opening General Session entitled, "The Mental Edge," featured Olympic SESSION HIGHLIGHTS Interest in propane autogas usage was further generated by the education- al portion of BusCon, during the "Im- plementing Propane Autogas Vehicles" case study, presented by Lynn McLean of Mich.-based Flint Mass Transporta- tion Authority (MTA). McLean was joined by ROUSH Clean- Tech's Todd Mouw and AmeriGas' War- ren Patterson. The group provided an overview of the technology itself, while also focusing heavily on MTA's real-life experience with the alternative fuel, in- cluding the initial challenges it faced as well as the efciencies they've found through the transition. Two sessions focusing on safety were huge hits, with both garnering standing- room only attendance. 28 < m ETRO m AGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 metro-magazine.com BUSCON 2014