The Arkansas Transit Association (ATA) offers a broad range of training programs to help agencies meet growing transportation and safety needs. Courses are conducted by a qualified and experienced training professional. Designed to improve employee skills and professionalism, training increases an agency's ability to provide efficient, safe and cost-effective service.

ATA, in partnership with the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, provides public transit, paratransit, and community human services providers the widest scope of specialized trainings available. Listed below are ATA's most popular training programs. ATA's Training Coordinator can also tailor a training program to fit an agency's needs. All courses can be conducted on-site at the agency or at the Arkansas Public Safety and Resource Center. While most trainings are presented for a minimal materials fee, ATA members enjoy a discount.

Training Title	Estimated Length
Child Passenger Safety	4 Hours
Coaching the Experienced Driver II	3.5 Hours
Coaching the Van Driver II	3.5 Hours
CPR - Adult and Pediatric	3 Hours
DHS/Developmental Disabilities Services Transportation Training	7 Hours
Drug & Alcohol Awareness for Safety Sensitive Employees	2 Hours
Drug & Alcohol Training for Supervisors	2.5 Hours
Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers	2.5 Hours
Evacuating Elderly & Disabled Passengers from Vehicle Emergencies	2 Hours
Fatigue Awareness	2 Hours
First Aid in the Workplace	2 Hours
Infectious Disease Awareness and Prevention	2 Hours
Operation Lifesaver (Rail Grade Crossing Safety)	1 Hour
Passenger Assistance	*2 - 4 Hours
Safe Transport of the Public under the ADA	2 Hours
Special Transit and Rural Transit Safety	*2 - 4 Hours
Stress Management for Transit Employees	2 Hours
Transporting Passengers with Special Needs	4 Hours
Understanding the Capabilities and Needs of Persons with Disabilities	2 Hours
Violence in the Transit Workplace	3 Hours
	*(Determined by class size)

Child Passenger Safety

This class offers classroom discussion, video presentations, and hands-on participation on the proper installation techniques of child passenger safety seats. Participants will learn

• types of car seats and boosters on the market.
• to identify common errors in car seat installation.

The course is based on information produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Participants will leave with knowledge they can use to keep their youngest passengers more secure. The class, funded through a special grant from the Public Transportation Programs Section of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, has no materials fee to ATA members, $20.00 per person for non-members.


Coaching the Experienced Driver II

Specifically designed for the employee who has been driving for some time, this course offers comprehensive coverage of techniques that may have been forgotten over the years. It also introduces new techniques to help fine-tune collision-prevention skills. This non-lecture style course will present information on

• alcohol, other drugs, and driving.
• driving in commercial areas.
• right-turn procedures.
• safe backing and parking.

This class, ideal for employees who drive various agency vehicles or their own vehicles for agency purposes, is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.


Coaching the Van Driver II

This is a comprehensive defensive driving course developed by the National Safety Council which focuses on the unique characteristics of driving vans. Using a video presentation, written responses and discussion of realistic situations, participants will learn

• proper following and stopping distances.
• ways to reduce accidents caused by adverse weather and driving conditions.
• techniques that increase road hazards awareness.

• Defensive driving
• Sensitive and understand of the of the aging process
• Overview of diseases and functional factors commonly affecting older adults
• Environmental considerations affecting passengers with disabilities
• Passenger assistance techniques
• Proper wheelchair management and securement techniques
• Wheelchair lift operation
• Emergency procedures

• vehicle and mental preparation.
• hazardous weather conditions.
• breakdown and accident procedures.

Evacuating Elderly and Disabled Passengers from Vehicle Emergencies

This course is designed to enable drivers and attendants to respond quickly and effectively to vehicle emergencies that require immediate evacuation of mobility-impaired passengers. Various evacuation techniques are demonstrated and practiced. The agency will also receive a training video with more than 20 evacuation scenarios.


Fatigue Awareness

This seminar examines how individuals are affected by obligations during working hours and personal time. Participants become aware of many factors in their daily lives that cause harm to their bodies. Determination and will cannot overcome the biological and physiological conditions caused by fatigue.


First Aid in the Workplace

Agencies need to prepare employees to recognize on-the-job emergencies and provide the appropriate assistance for injuries and illnesses, such as burns, cuts, bad allergic reactions, diabetic episodes and seizures. This training, which includes a First Aid manual for each participant, can be presented alone or with CPR. First Aid certification is valid for 3 years.


Infectious Disease Awareness & Prevention

This course, recently created by the National Transit Institute, is intended for transportation employees and others who work directly with the public and maintenance employees who are responsible for cleaning and servicing the vehicles. Using lecture, visual aids, participant interaction and learning activities, attendees will gain the knowledge and skill to

• identify the types of diseases to which they may be exposed.
• discuss how these illnesses are most often spread.
• describe how they can protect themselves and others from contracting these diseases.
• explain the proper method for disposal and decontamination of infectious materials or contaminated areas.

Operation Lifesaver - Rail Grade Crossing Safety

What would you do if your vehicle stalled or was trapped on railroad tracks? The most preventable crash is one involving a train and a motor vehicle. This class will teach very practical skills for stopping at rail grade crossing, checking for trains and evacuating passengers from a railroad crossing. Operation Lifesaver is an international program on railroad safety.


Passenger Assistance

All passengers deserve respect and dignity, and a safe, comfortable ride. A good relationship with your customers is vital to this goal. Using video presentations, operator handbooks developed by Project Action/Easter Seals, discussion and hands-on techniques, participants will gain knowledge and confidence to help passengers with various needs. Best practice skills for loading and securing wheelchairs are included.


Safe Transport of the Public under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

An overview of transporting passengers in compliance with the ADA, the program stresses positive passenger relations and focuses on the driver's responsibility for safe and courteous responses to a variety of circumstances and passenger needs.


Special Transit and Rural Transit Safety

Focusing on professionalism, common sense, and safe transportation, this course is an excellent defensive driving course for first-time drivers of community or rural transit vehicles. Each participant will demonstrate safe driving skills during an on-the-road test. Topics include:

• Vehicle Safety Inspection (Pre-trip checklist)
• Defensive and Safe Driving Procedures

This class is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.


Stress Management for Transit Employees

What is stress? How can one manage or reduce it? Studies show that productivity and efficiency increase as workers learn to positively cope with personal and professional stressors. A stress susceptibility scale shows participants if they are more or less likely effected by daily pressures. This course presents various stress relief techniques.


Transporting Passenger with Special Needs

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires any organization that transports passengers with special needs to provide passenger assistance training for drivers. Today's drivers MUST know defensive driving techniques to reduce the chances of a crash. This training meets both of these needs. Through individual exercises, group discussions, and hands-on demonstrations, attendees actively participate in the learning process.Participants learn

• changing traffic patterns and adverse weather conditions adaptation.
• proper wheelchair lift use and wheelchair securement.

This class is approved as a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) by the Office of Driver Services, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, and includes a National Safety Council Response Book.


Understanding the Capabilities and Needs of Persons with Disabilities

Participants learn how to meet the transportation needs of passengers who have a variety of disabilities, such as spinal cord injury or other mobility impairments, vision or hearing impairment, Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation or conditions related to aging.


Violence in the Transit Workplace

Safety and security of transit employees and the public is a primary concern for any agency that provides transportation. In addition to protecting their systems from crime or acts of terrorism, agencies and employees face the challenge of addressing workplace violence issues everyday. This course from the National Transit Institute responds to a need for front-line employees and supervisors to prevent, respond to, and recover from workplace violence incidents, whether they be threats of a physical attack or intimidating behavior by customers, co-workers and others. Provide your transit employees with the skills and knowledge to:

• recognize and define workplace violence.
• identify agency and personal security measures for preventing workplace violence.
• describe strategies for dealing with "different", difficult", and"dangerous" people".
• discuss the importance of recovering from workplace violence.
  

The classes above can be modified to fit the individual needs of the agency. ATA's Training Coordinator may be able to provide instruction in areas not listed, upon the request of a member agency.

Training Brochure, PDF