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Up skill the Frontline Workforce: Small and Rural Transit Shares Insights at CTAA Expo Workshop

Posted June 2015

Small, rural and tribal agencies face unique challenges recruiting, retaining and cultivating the skills of their frontline operations and maintenance workforce. According to participants to the June 3 workshop at the CTAA Expo in Tampa, FL, the paramount frontline workforce challenge most small properties face is the lack of qualified candidates for bus and van operators and the high turnover rate, largely attributable to the low wages. Complicated work tasks, difficult schedules and working conditions also drive many away even during the initial training.

The workshop was facilitated by Jack Clark and Xinge Wang of the Transportation Learning Center. During the presentation, Jack and Xinge shared recent analysis of transit workforce trends, small agency innovations in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, and national resources available for frontline workforce training established in the past 15 years, including national training standards for bus operators and mechanics, online sharing of transit training materials, and regional collaboration between small and large agencies. 

For more information, contact Deputy Director and Director of Research Xinge Wang or view the entire presentation on our website.