News

TWC Holds Kickoff Meeting for Bus Maintenance ATTAIN Committee

Posted April 2022

On Wednesday, March 30, the Transit Workforce Center (TWC), the Federal Transit Administration’s first ever national technical assistance center for transit workforce development, staffed by the International Transportation Learning Center, held its kickoff meeting for the Bus Maintenance Committee of the American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN). 

Over 90 labor and management representatives registered for the kickoff meeting, which featured a moderated roundtable discussion with Pierce Transit and ATU Local 758 in Lakewood, WA and with Utah Transit Authority and ATU Local 382, both of which have active, successful bus maintenance apprenticeship programs. Following a review of apprenticeship, its many benefits, and the apprenticeship resources available from the TWC, an open discussion took place regarding bus maintenance apprenticeship that included mentoring, selecting apprentices, entry qualifications, coordinating related instruction with on-the-job learning, and other related topics.    

The ATTAIN effort and associated committees marks the first time the FTA has officially endorsed apprenticeship activity in transit. Given the challenges facing the industry with new propulsion technologies, coupled with impending retirements and the acute shortage of technicians in general, “growing your own” through apprenticeship is especially relevant.

For technical assistance email us at twc@transportcenter.org or call us toll-free at 855-888-NTWC.

For more information on the ATTAIN Bus Maintenance Committee or to join, contact John Schiavone JohnJSchiavone@cs.com.